Rubbish has been piling up in the city’s streets for up to two weeks after a council’s refuse and recycling trucks broke down.

Some residents across Brighton and Hove have not had their rubbish collected by Brighton and Hove City Council contractors Cityclean because of problems with various collection vehicles.

It has meant some households have not had their pre and post-Christmas waste collected since December 17.


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Brighton and Hove City Council said having broken-down vehicles “wasn’t unusual” and admitted it was running behind with rubbish collections – but it was “catching up quickly”.

Ronald Grice, 82, of the Ingram Crescent Estate in Hove, said foxes were gathering each night outside his house as piles of waste continue to build.

He added: “Me and my neighbours are all in the same boat. We don’t know what’s going on. You call up but only get an answering machine. No one calls you back when you leave your name and number.

“There are turkey carcasses and all sorts building up.

“We’re definitely not getting what we pay our council tax for.”

Trevor Woolven, 52, of Cuckmere Way in Hollingbury, said: “My rubbish was last collected on December 19 and I’ve been told it won’t be picked up again until January 4 because two trucks have broken down.

“It’s piling up outsidemyhouse and in my street and it’s all the waste from over the Christmas period – so there’s a lot.

“The foxes and seagulls are having a field day. They take 4% of our council tax to choose when and where they collect the rubbish and it’s not good enough.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: “We have vehicles breaking down all the time which is not unusual and happens throughout the year.

“We are collecting every day other than bank holidays and are running behind but catching up as quickly as we can so there will be collections before January 4.

“We went to Ingram Crescent Estate on Tuesday morning but the vehicle broke down so we will return as soon as we can.”