FED-UP residents are threatening not to pay their council tax in protest at the council’s failure to empty the bins on their estate for three weeks.

Neighbours on the Claypool Estate in Horwich say rubbish is overflowing in bins leading to an infestation of rats.

Now in a desperate attempt to have their bins emptied, the Claypool Residents’ Association has presented Town Hall chiefs with the ultimatum.

The group is holding a meeting tonight to ask residents to withhold their council tax until the bin problems are resolved.

Secretary and treasurer of the influential Claypool Residents’ Association, Ken Whowell said: “Why should we pay for a service which isn’t being delivered?

“Our bins were last emptied on October 12. I pay my council tax on a monthly basis. I have already written the cheque, however it won’t be paid until my bin is emptied.”

Neighbour Colin Adamson, aged 36, who will also be withholding his next payment, said: “We are all expected to pay our council tax on time otherwise we are taken to court whether or not we are being provided with a service.“ Residents say they have been patient but now the situation is posing a threat to health.

Mother-of-two Michaela Bainbridge, aged 38, called in pest control after spotting rats.

She said: “There are children living on this estate and yet the managers do not seem to care and the bin collectors have to bear the brunt of it. It is not fair on them.”

Her recycling bins are having to be used for general waste.

The association will urge other residents and members to follow suit and stop paying their council tax at the meeting. Streets affected include Poplar Avenue, Claypool Road and Sycamore Walk.

Bolton Council yesterday admitted there was “a problem “ in the area and said it was one of only five per cent of streets to have been affected by the changes to the rounds. It said the estate will be made a “top priority” and a “speedy collection” arranged.

A spokesman added: “It is not legal for residents to withhold payment of their council tax. The council has a total budget of around £400.8 million for 2009/10 which is used to provide all services from bin collections and recycling to libraries and museums. Only 25 per cent of this budget is collected from council tax.”

Failure to pay can lead to a court summons.

schaudhari@theboltonnews.co.uk