A MOUNTAIN of rubbish has been piling up after council contractors did not collect the refuse for three weeks.

Residents of Stonehill Court, Kingshead Hill, Chingford have had to endure pungent smells and bags of rubbish attracting vermin after refuse collectors claimed they could not reach the large wheelie bins because of parked cars blocking their truck from reaching the bins.

Elderly resident Dennis Payne said: “There was lots of rubbish because we have 33 flats here and it was left for weeks.

"The council said the cars were blocking them, but the cars are allowed to be parked there.”

There are several parking bays situated in front of the bins which residents are entitled to use with parking permits.

But the council says contractors cannot always reach the bins because of the parked cars.

Kerry Hosier, 40, said that she telephoned the council several times and was assured that the growing mound of rubbish would be collected.

But it was not collected until three weeks later, last Friday. Then refuse collectors failed to make another collection on Monday.

Ms Hosier said: “It is a constant problem. I told them that it is a health and a fire hazard. We have had rubbish set alight by kids and have seen dead rats.

“I know the cars have been an issue, but they could have moved the bins around the cars, or they could arrange with the building manager to put the bins in a different place. Just to let the problem continue like this is not on.

“And we are concerned because we are starting recycling collections here soon.”

17-year-old Sam Drew added: “Lots of people have complained. It was pretty bad. Our family eight bags of rubbish alone and couldn’t fit it in the bins.”

Waltham Forest Council's cabinet member for environment, Cllr Bob Belam, said: "We're sorry it has taken so long to empty these bins.

"The team has made several attempts to empty these bins but on each occasion there were parked cars blocking access to them.

“The rubbish has now been collected and this particular collection site will be monitored to make sure this does not happen again."