A CHURCH Hill dad got more than he bargained for when he decided to dig out a small fishpond for his children.

But Craig Snow, of Upperfield Close, didn't strike gold when he shoved in his spade.

Instead, he uncovered an old washing machine, a roll of carpet, an ironing board, a bed frame, glass and a kitchen cupboard.

And now he and his wife Dawn are left with a crater in their garden - and a mountain of rubbish.

Mrs Snow said: "It's like the Generation Game but it's in my back garden."

The couple has lived in their council home for six years and Mrs Snow said they wanted to make the fishpond for their four daughters, aged between four and 13.

"We are hard working and just wanted to construct something nice to come home to," she said.

"First, Craig's spade hit one thing then another - it was horrendous and now we have a heap of rubbish in our garden."

She said she had phoned the council to ask them to take the items away but was told they would have to arrange for a special collection and she would have to pay for it.

To use the council's waste removal service, residents can book and prepay £8 for three household items to be taken away.

Mrs Snow said: "This is dreadful as it's not our rubbish. Why should we have to pay to get it taken away?"

Redditch Council head of housing services Liz Tomkin said: "Generally speaking, once a tenant takes over a property, any items in the garden become their responsibility, including removal and disposal."