THE WHITE stuff has been the centre of the news this week as many people have been unable to go to school, or work or travel on the boroughs roads and railways - but now the consequential disruption from the snowy weather has begun to take its toll.

As a result of the treacherous conditions Havering’s rubbish collection services have not been running to their usual timetable this week, which has caused upset among several residents.

One of Thurloe Gardens, Romford, said: “I put my rubbish out on Wednesday and it wasn’t collected. Now I’m being told it won’t be collected until next Wednesday.

“These heavy lorries should be able to handle the roads, especially a main road like mine. We’re talking 20tonne lorries.”

He said he only found out his collection was cancelled when he called the council after he realised it hadn’t been collected.

“If our rubbish is left out now, that’s surely a health hazard to be left there that long,” he said.

But a Havering Council spokesman said it had warned residents in Monday’s issue of Living there may be disruption to rubbish collections if there was heavy snow and advised people to check the council website for up-to-date information and provided phone numbers for those with no internet access.

Councillor Barry Tebbutt, cabinet member for streetcare, said: “It is unsafe to send large lorries down icy residential roads. We also have to take the icy pavements into account.

“We have been updating our website daily for residents to get up-to-date information about rubbish collections.

“They took place yesterday and we will have extra collections today (Saturday) to help clear the backlog.”

Residents have been advised to leave their rubbish out on the boundary of their properties and it will be collected as soon as the rubbish collection service is able.