Bemused residents were left scratching their heads when a council came to empty their recycling – and took the containers away as well.

Dozens of people in Crescent Road, Brighton, take pride in putting out their black containers full of glass bottles, plastic cartons and cardboard every fortnight.

But, following complaints from some households leaving their boxes out permanently, Brighton and Hove City Council warned it would confiscate any left out on the pavement.

Residents were shocked when, just hours after crews had emptied the recycling on their designated day, enforcement officers came round to seize dozens of containers. The local authority has since apologised and returned all the boxes.

A council spokesman said it received a number of complaints about litter and obstruction becoming a recurrent problem from bins left out.

She added: “Unfortunately a genuine mistake was made in this case, which was rectified immediately with all recycling boxes returned to residents that afternoon."