A FOSTER carer hit out this week at Trafford council's refuse collection service.

Hale resident Anita Shelmerdine says she was assessed by Trafford council as needing four bins for her family of nine, but she only applied for three.

She claims refuse collectors removed one of her bins after questioning why she has three bins.

"I was left with two bins, and two bins are not enough. There are nine of us in this house, and because I'm a foster carer there can be as many as ten or 11 people in the house at any one time.

"I fill three bins up each week even with nine of us."

Anita says she called Trafford council to ask for her bin back but she was told she would have to apply for an extra bin and she would be assessed on need.

"Why should I have to reapply for a bin that I was previously assessed as needing?" Anita asked.

"I think it's appalling, and the bin men won't take any extra bags if they're not in a bin, they just leave it."

A spokesman for Trafford council told SAM: "Households are entitled to one wheeled bin of 240 litre capacity. The allocation of extra wheeled bins is based on a number criteria.

"We wouldn't remove a bin once a bin has been allocated."