A THURROCK councillor has thanked officers at the council for showing leeway and helping rind a sheltered housing complex of a problem.

Homesteads independent councillor Gary Byrne stepped in when staff and resdients at the Kynoch Court sheltered housing complex on Billet Lane in Stanford-le-Hope had failed to get their brown bins organised for emptying before the new regulations regarding garden waste came into foce.

Six brown bins were left full of rotting rubbish, with no arrangements being made for their collection.

Cllr Byrne became aware of the problem and liased with officers, who arranged to make a 'one-off' free collection to clear the waste.

Cllr Byrne said: "The lovely resident Gill asked me if I could get their six brown bins emptied that were full of grass. They had missed the last TBC collection and were worried about having bins full of smelly rotting grass. The director, Claire Demmel, and her team were only too pleased to help with a one off gesture of good will and emptied the residents brown bins next day,

"Myself and the residents are very grateful."