Man's bemusement over bin ruling

The council said Mr Morris's bin should be visible from the road

A Wiltshire man has spoken of his bewilderment after council workers refused to pick up his bin because it was inches too far away from the kerb.

Gordon Morris of Trowbridge said West Wiltshire District Council told him to take the wheelie bin to a tip instead.

He said he was told the bin must be closer to the pavement to be emptied.

West Wiltshire District Council said there was no fixed policy on exactly where a bin should be, but that all bins should be at the kerbside.

It's bureaucracy gone mad Gordon Morris

A council spokesman said wheelie bins should be visible from the road but must not block pavements or highways.

Mr Morris said the council sent a worker to see him and a compromise of an extra 25cm towards the kerb was reached.

Mr Morris told BBC News: "Schoolchildren are walking to school. There are people in invalid carriages.

"If they step out into the road and get hit, who's going to be to blame?

"It's bureaucracy gone mad. I am now able to bring my bin nine inches out so that the wheels and the front third of the bin are showing."