BINMEN who took industrial action have been refusing to collect people’s rubbish — claiming some wheelie bins are too heavy.

Only half of weekly waste collections were made in Bolton during a two-day strike over pay a fortnight ago.

But despite going back to work, some binmen have refused to empty bins if they have too much rubbish in them, residents are claiming.

Cllr Elaine Sherrington, executive member for cleaner, greener, safer at Bolton Council, said she was unaware of complaints. But she said a full assessment of the impact of the strike on her department’s services would be made tomorrow.

Among those who have raised concerns is Jonathan Holding, who had put his wheelie bin out after the strike, only to later to find a “too heavy” sticker slapped on it.

The 34-year-old father-of-one said: “I had recycled everything I could to keep our waste to a minimum to help them out but having a baby, you have things like nappies, that you’ve got to get rid of."

And a Westhoughton resident said: "Our bin wasn't emptied during the strikes so my wife put it out the next time.

"It was half empty but very heavy and when I came home there was a sticker on it saying it was too heavy."

Cllr Sherrington: “We had 50 per cent collected over the two days and the rest have had to wait until the following week to be picked up.

“I have not had any telephone calls about uncollected bins, though."