STRONG winds from Storm Gareth blew uncollected plastic waste all over a Highworth street.

For years, pensioners living in Newburgh Place have used a spot under stairs leading to flats above shops at the end of their road as a collection point for plastic recycling.

However, Swindon Borough Council waste collectors missed it during their rounds on Tuesday and winds scattered it across the street.

Michael Cummings says he tried to report this to the council but was left on hold for more than an hour and struggled to use the website.

The 73-year-old said: “It’s a disgrace. The bags have split open and the plastic has blown everywhere.

"I couldn’t get through to the council at all because nobody answers the phone and the website asks for an address to collect it, but it’s not at my address and I don’t know what address you would use for those stairs.

"My neighbours are also rather cross about it all. If you don’t have a computer, you can’t notify them about it because if you call them you’re left on hold forever, which is unacceptable.

“This has happened before. Six weeks ago, the binmen missed the bags and they were left there for a month. Last week was the next time they were supposed to collect it but they missed it again, and look what happened.

“I might just not bother with recycling plastic and put it in with my normal rubbish if the bags are going to be left out uncollected like this.”

A council spokesman said: “We carry out more than 150,000 waste collections every week. Occasionally some get missed. But we are pleased to report that the rubbish at Newburgh Place has now been collected.”