Battle of the bins

The bins are taller than some residents

A dirty war is raging in the normally-polite streets of Edinburgh. A row over wheelie bins has had the city council facing guerrilla tactics, mass petitions, and hostile protests.

Even Prince Charles has become involved in the residents' fight to rid the city of new, large black wheelie bins.

The area affected is near Edinburgh castle.

People living in the picturesque, cobbled streets within sight of the castle are livid that their view is being spoiled by large and unsightly wheelie bins.

Click on the links at the top of the page to see John Morrison's reports on the Wheelie bins.

The large black bins hold rubbish for up to 25 households and are 5ft, 9 inches tall.

Residents say the bins take up parking spaces

The residents want the council to get rid of them and have the support of Prince Charles- he's written to the council to support them.

Residents accept that they need some kind of container for bin bags, but say that the new bins do not fit in with the surrounding area .

But Edinburgh council is sticking to its guns.

Mike Drewry from the council told John Morrison on Breakfast that the bins meant cleaner streets.

We've taken independent surveys...and 90% of the people who were surveyed prefer this kind of refuse collection Mike Drewry, Edinburgh Council

And he said that the fuss was because the bins are new - claiming that eventually, "everyone will come to accept it."

But residents have gathered names for a petition which they're taking to the Scottish Parliament.

Public meetings about the problem have almost ended in violence.

One resident threatened to give a councillor "a Glasgow kiss" - a head butt.

And there's been sabotage - road markings to show bin men where to put the wheelie bins have been painted over in the middle of the night.

As far as the residents are concerned, the fight is not over.