A borough’s bin collections have been delayed due to “high sickness levels” in staff.

Refuse, recycling and garden waste disposal rounds across Swale are running behind due to a lack of drivers in the area.

A council spokesman said: “Due to high sickness levels yesterday (Monday, March 11) Biffa did not have enough drivers to deploy all refuse, recycling and garden waste rounds.”

As a result, the decision was made by the local authority to delay two garden waste rounds in the Sittingbourne area, one recycling round in the Queenborough area and one refuse round across the holiday camps in Sheppey.

The spokesman continued: “There was also one refuse round in Selling that had to be covered with a smaller vehicle as the driver available is unqualified to drive the standard size freighter, around half of this round was also delayed.

“All drivers have returned today, and all rounds are out.

“The delayed rounds from yesterday will be completed today before any scheduled work is undertaken, this will result in delays throughout the remainder of the week and any outstanding work at the end of the week will be caught up on Saturday.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.”

Residents whose bins have been missed have been advised to leave it out to be collected in due course.