BINS have been left festering at the side of roads across Oxfordshire for a month after a string of cancelled collections.

Thousands of residents in West Oxfordshire, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse last had their waste collected four weeks ago.

Officials say the bins were not collected because icy roads made it too dangerous for refuse workers.

Residents in Pensclose, Witney, last had their household waste collected four weeks ago – on January 9.

But their bins are due to be emptied tomorrow.

Roger Godfrey, 66, who runs a carpet cleaning firm, said: “I worked every day we had snow and I did not miss a single appointment.

“I did not want to let my customers down and the council should not let theirs down.”

He said recycling boxes were collected last week and questioned why household waste was not collected at the same time.

Mr Godfrey added: “This would not have happened if we had weekly bin collections.”

Barry West, 56, said: “Surely they could have sent an extra vehicle out to collect the rubbish in the areas that have not been done.”

Mr West cares for his parents Anne, 79, and Peter, 80, who live in Pensclose.

West Oxfordshire District Council’s waste contractor, May Gurney, collects recycling and food waste weekly, but garden and household waste fortnightly.

The council estimated less than five per cent of residents were still waiting for their bins to be collected.

Spokesman Sam Simpson said: “We are sorry for any inconvenience.

“We are trying hard to get things back on track as quickly as possible.”

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse contractor Biffa collects food waste weekly and recycling and landfill waste fortnightly on alternate weeks.

The councils estimated seven to eight per cent of residents were still waiting for bins to be collected, with recycling collections disrupted in South Oxfordshire and landfill waste in the Vale.

Waste crews for all three councils were out on Saturday in an attempt to catch up on the routes hit but did not reach everyone.

Cherwell District Council and Oxford City Council said the weather had disrupted collections, but crews had now caught up.