SIX one-off refuse collections rounds will take place this weekend (20-21 July) for some residents and businesses whose rubbish was not collected on Wednesday (17 July) because of strike action.

However, it will only be possible to carry out about half of the usual number of collections that take place on a Wednesday, as there are not enough staff available to offer the full service._ There will not be any additional service to collect recyclable waste. Those people who usually have their papers, glass and cans collected from their kerbside on a Wednesday will find that the normal service will be resumed next week.

The refuse collection crews will aim to get most of the additional rounds completed on Saturday but some may over run into Sunday.

Chief Executive David Atkinson said: "Unlike many other councils we have tried to make one-off arrangements because we appreciate that it is difficult to store two weeks-worth of rubbish, especially during the summer.

"We would like to have been able to cover all of Wednesday's rounds but that has not been possible and so we will try to do what will be most useful, for example keeping back lanes clear.

"And we can assure those residents who do not receive an additional collection over the weekend that all their rubbish will be take away next Wednesday - even if they need to put out an extra dustbin sack alongside their wheeled bin."

The council is publishing details of the weekend collections on its website at www.york.gov.uk and will be keeping residents informed of the situation through the local media and its refuse collection hotline. This can be contacted on (01904) 636000.

The areas that will receive a one-off refuse collection this weekend are as follows: Acomb Carr Lane All city centre commercial properties and adjoining homes Foxwood Grantham Drive Haxby Huntington (this will include the usual garden refuse collection) Lindsey Avenue Nunmill Lane, Russell Street, Thorpe Street Old Earswick Rufforth (only those residents who normally receive a collection on a Wednesday will be covered ie not the whole of Acomb or Foxwood). Areas that will not be receiving an additional weekend collection are: Askham Bryan Askham Richard Badger Hill Cherrywood Crescent Clifton Moor Copmanthorpe Main St Dodsworth Avenue Fulford Main St Heslington Knapton. The Mount area Naburn Osbaldwick Lane Poppleton Park Stockton Lane area Tang Hall ENDS

Note to editors: The kerbside recycling collections missed on Wednesday 17 July will be not collected over the weekend. The next collection for those streets affected by the strike will be Wednesday 31 July. The recycling crew will take any extra bags of items (glass, cans, newspaper, magazines) for recycling which are left out along side the recycling box.