A NEW collection service aimed at combating fly-tipping has served its first customer.

Colchester Council is now offering pick-ups of bulky waste on request to residents in parts of Berechurch and Harbour wards, and Holt Drive, off Mersea Road.

Councillors pitched in to help workers as they got the ball rolling by removing rubbish from the home of Hayley Green, in Queen Elizabeth Way, Monkwick.

While there is no suggestion Ms Green would have been tempted to dump the waste, it is hoped the service will reduce fly-tipping in the three areas.

Most residents elsewhere in the borough can either take large items to the council tip or pay for them to be taken away, but until now only Greenstead and St Anne’s got free collections.

Berechurch Labour councillor Dave Harris said: “I have fought hard against fly-tipping in our wooded beauty spots around south Colchester, such as Friday Woods, Birch Glen, and Monkwick.

“This new service will be a boon in the fight to have fly-tipping stopped. Why would a fly-tipper dump rubbish when the service now exists and is free by appointment on any Saturday of the year?”

Berechurch, Harbour and Holt Drive were chosen to benefit from the extension of the Greenstead and St Anne’s scheme, both because they suffer badly from fly-tipping and research has shown a higher-than-average proportion of residents are hard-up.

Conservatives in opposition on the council argued the move was unfair, as areas of Tory-run wards with greater levels of deprivation had been excluded by the Lib Dem/Labour/Independent coalition, which holds power.

To find out if you live in an area that qualifies for the free collection scheme, call 01206 282700.