BINMEN have been out in force across Colchester despite heavy snow and icy roads.

Colchester Council's crews, based at the Shrub End Road depot, braved the winter weather yesterday in a bid to collect rubbish and recycling from 2,000 homes in Shrub End, Layer and Monkwick.

Paul English, street care and recycling operations manager, praised the crews for making it in to work.

He said: "We have got a lot of access issues due to the extreme weather conditions.

"Predominantly it is the estate roads which haven't been gritted. But the crews are doing exceptionally well considering the weather conditions, and hopefully residents appreciate they are trying to get everywhere.

"It is basically business as usual for us, and I am very proud of the crews, who are determined to go out to do the best they can."

He added some staff had also been out helping Essex County Council’s highways department to shovel snow in the town centre. Charge hand Steve Langley said one of the biggest problems facing waste collectors is getting access to areas in Newtown, which has cars parked on both sides of narrow streets, and areas such as Rowhedge, which has winding roads.

He added: "We have small vans out helping us as well in places where there is no access.

"They are usually used by litter pickers or for picking up fly tipping.

"With the snow, the pickers cannot see the litter, so we have them out helping with the rounds."

Dustcart driver Justin Fairweather added: "It can be dangerous in this weather, so the job is a lot slower.

"The problem is worse because other road users aren’t as competent in the snow, and cars are parked up or left on corners of roads."