Arun District Council has apologised after newspapers put out for recycling were left rotting outside people's homes.

Full newspaper recycling boxes, called Bertie boxes, have cluttered the streets since the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Doreen Sturgeon, 50, of Priory Road, Rustington, said: "My Bertie box hasn't been emptied since Christmas.

"I kept filling it with newspapers and putting it out every Wednesday but it just sat there until all the papers went soggy.

"I kept thinking, 'Oh, they've passed us by again'. But then I noticed my neighbours were having the same problem. In the end I got so sick of it my husband took it to a recycling point."

"I'm not sure people will bother using their boxes now. The last thing they want is a box of soggy newspapers."

Councillor Richard Bower said: "We appreciate the confusion caused and can only apologise for not providing the high standards of service we strive to.

"We are aware some of the information supplied to our customers has not been as good as it should be."

Will Reading, regional director of waste company Onyx, said: "I wish to add my personal apology to the customers we have failed and re-emphasise our commitment to getting it right."