RESIDENTS have complained about rubbish bags piling up outside their homes after six communal bins were destroyed in a fire.

Worcester City Council delivered two new bins to the Fortis Living homes in Popert Drive, Worcester, after the blaze, although it did not replace the other four bins.

Youths are suspected of causing the original fire, which destroyed the bins and the outbuilding that they were stored in.

Homeowner Jessica Millward has now complained to the council, claiming that rats and foxes are being drawn to the stench of bags which have been left in the open.

Ms Millward, who works in academia, said: "They are not removing rubbish.

"At this rate we will have a situation similar to Birmingham last year.

"We all pay our council tax and as a result of that tax we are all entitled to dispose of our rubbish in a safe and effective manner.

"Can you imagine how it feels having bags of rubbish sitting outside your home?

"I wonder, if our postcode was WR5 in Norton rather than WR5 and Ronkswood, whether this would be treated differently.

"I am fortunate. I don't use this bin store and I don't need it. But I will not tolerate the abuse and neglect of those living in affordable housing or council rented properties that do."

Ms Millward took pictures of refuse sacks piled up at the site on Wednesday - the day after their black bags were supposed to have been collected.

Emily Bond, aged 33, of Popert Drive, added: "It's like this every week. It keeps piling up and piling up.

"Foxes have torn the bags open. It's causing a nuisance with vermin now.

"I feel very sorry for the people that live next door to it. Having the fire and now this, it must be awful.

"The birds are getting into it as well. There's flocks of seagulls."

A Worcester City Council spokesman said: “The bin store at Popert Drive was destroyed by a fire, along with the bins within it.

"Our records showed that two bins were stored in it, and we delivered two replacement bins to the site.

"We have only just been made aware that another four bins were also being stored in the bin store and were also destroyed in the fire.

"We will be delivering replacements for those bins today and will also be removing the additional waste bags at the site.”

Worcester City Council added that the bin store is owned by Fortis Living, which is responsible for replacing it.

Locals believe a gang of children, who had been terrorising the area, started the fire that burnt down the bin store on February 11.

Witnesses can call the police on 101 quoting incident number 446s of February 11.