REFUSE collectors are being told not to collect large Christmas trees from Bolton homes unless they have been cut up.

In previous years, householders just had to leave their trees next to recycling bins.

This year, Bolton Council says any trees measuring more than four feet high by four feet wide will only be collected if they are chopped up.

The change comes a year after a binman suffered a minor strain lifting a large tree, although council chiefs say it is not the reason.

They say fewer people are leaving trees out for collection and it is not cost-effective to continue with a dedicated service.

But the change has come under fire from Conservative opposiition leader Cllr John Walsh, who read about the new guidance on the council's website.

The guidance does not mention a size limit but says all trees should be cut up and put into a green garden waste bin.

It says people without a green garden waste bin should take their trees to waste sites at Union Road, the Valley, Blackhorse Street, Blackrod or Raikes Lane.

Cllr Walsh said: "Most trees are larger than four feet and the website gives a confused picture because it does not mention the size limit.

"What about an elderly person who cannot chop a tree up? Residents without a green bin will have to take them to the tips - think of the potential queues.

But Cllr Elaine Sherrington, the council's Executive member for cleaner greener safer, said: "I can't imagine many older people will have a tree bigger than four foot by four foot."

Cllr Sherrington added that because not all homes had green bins for garden waste, trees which had been cut up would still be removed even if left next to a burgundy recycling bin.

A council spokesman said: "In recent years fewer trees were being left out and it was not cost-efficient to continue with a dedicated tree collection service."