Residents across the Halstead area have been left fuming after public sector strikes caused major disruption to refuse collections.

In total, 10,500 properties were affected district wide and 7,800 are still awaiting collections - the worst affected areas being in Halstead and surrounding villages.

Milton Booth, of Balls Chase, Halstead, said: “It is making the whole area look like a mess and it will be a month before the green wheely bins are emptied.

“I already have five bags waiting to be emptied and by next week there will be another five.

“We all pay our rates but Braintree Council doesn’t seem to want to know.”