A group of pensioners were left furious after the council declared their bins 'too big' to empty.

       The bins at Barden Court in Maidstone, Kent, which had been in use for 27 years, had to be replaced by residents of the retirement community themselves, costing a whopping ￡1,200.

       Residents say they never had a problem with their rubbish being collected in the past, until Suez took over waste collection in the borough at the end of March, leaving the bins overflowing.

       Angela Dalton, development manager of Barden Court, was left worried for the health of her residents, and was seething at the council’s negligence.

       "My oldest resident is 97," she told Kent Online. "I can’t have them trying to reach to pile rubbish on’. She went on to call it an ‘environmental issue’ as well as a ‘health and safety one'."

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       Upon voicing her concerns, Maidstone Council informed Angela that the bins have always been to large to comply with the regulations, but this has left her wondering why this issue has only just been raised.

       She said: "Why has it taken them 27 years to realise?"

       Angela, along with her residents, were especially angry at the council’s failure to notify them of the issue. "They just let us carry on filling them and then decided they will not be emptied."

       Although the residents complied and paid the money to replace them bins themselves, Angela is still rightfully left unsatisfied at the outcome of the situation.

       She added: "They pay the council for a service who have completely failed to comply with the contract they have with Maidstone residents - it is a complete disgrace."

       She filed a formal complaint and went on to say that ‘this has been a lot of stress and heartache for nothing’.

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       A council spokesperson said: “Managing agents are responsible for the purchase of bulk waste bins which must meet the correct specification of 1,100-litre metal containers with a flat lid to EN840 standard.

       “The council was advised by the managing agent that the bins were 25 years old and regardless of their age, did not meet the required specification.

       “The council has never supplied plastic bulk waste containers.

       “Following negotiation between council officers and the managing agents, all issues have now been resolved.”

       The residents received their new bins last week.