Police were called out to help patrol the crowds near a recycling centre after scenes of chaos after a change in policy at the centre.

The police were directing traffic at Harwood Hall Lane, Upminster due to the huge backlog in cars waiting to use the Gerpins Lane Recyling Centre in Corbets Tey Road, Upminster on Monday May 9.

Cllr Ron Ower (RA,Upminster) said: “It was absolutely chaotic and police were there to make sure that Aveley Road was clear because the number of cars that were waiting to get on to the site were blocking the road.”

As part of the change in policy at the centre which came into place on Monday, Havering residents and those in the East London Waste Authority have to bring a proof of residence when using the site, while people living outside of the area will be charged �10 to dump the rubbish.

But residents claim that they were not informed about the plans before and turned up to the site with two members of staff telling them all about the plans, causing a huge backlog in cars waiting to get in.

Resident Maurice Sparks said: “It was a absolute pain, something that usually takes just 20 mins, took me over an hour.

“It was dangerous because they were so many cars just waiting and blocking up the road and it is going to be worse over the weekend becaused everyone just goes to dump all their rubbish.”

The policy is believed to have changed because of the number of people living outside of the East London Waste Authority using the site, with boroughs like Havering footing the bill.

Residents have argued that there needed to be a change, but there has been a lack of consultation.

Cllr Barrett (RA,Cranham) said: “I understand why there has been a change in policy because we were paying for other people’s rubbish, but there could have been more consultation to iron out problems because anyone could have predicted that there would be a huge backlog in traffic and it could even lead to more flytipping.”