LACK of access for waste collectors has been blamed after a residential area in Furze Hill ended up looking like a tip last week.

LACK of access for waste collectors has been blamed after a residential Sidbury street ended up looking like a tip last week.

Furze Hill residents were left with an ugly scene on their doorsteps when district council rubbish collectors failed to collect binbags last Tuesday.

A Herald reporter visited the scene on Wednesday afternoon to see several bags had been ripped open with used nappies and rotting food littering the street.

Kerrie Perez, of Furzehill said: "It's just disgusting to walk past this, I'm embarrassed to have people come and visit. I've got two young boys and I don't think its right they have to squeeze by that when they come home from school."

Neighbour Sonia Cook said: "This isn't the first time this has happened, we often find they do the rest of the area but leave us. It's absolutely disgusting, it's just been left for badgers and cats to rip all the bags open. We use a wheelie bin and I think other people should be encouraged to do the same. "

East Devon District Council said contractors have problems clearing rubbish as they are constantly finding vehicles blocking access to the area.

A spokesperson said: "Where they are unable to clear waste on the normal collection day, they will return the next day to try again.

If they are still unable to gain access with their larger vehicle, they send a narrow access vehicle, which is what has happened today (Wednesday). However, there are still problems with vehicles blocking access."

EDDC said a contractor visited the site on Wednesday and cleared as many bas as possible but had to carry them on foot to his vehicle before returning on Thursday to clear the remainder.

The EDDC spokesperson added: "Notices are put on the cars asking them not to park in this area on waste collection days but these go largely unheeded.