A keen recycler says residents have been left shortchanged after being handed smaller clear plastic bags by Braintree Council.

Retired salesman Rod Davey said he has contacted the authority because the bags were now six inches shorter than they used to be, meaning they no longer fit the bin.

Mr Davey, 70, of Rose Hill, Braintree, said: “They are considerably smaller now and they are getting smaller all the time.

“They really need to be bigger because they just don’t fit the bins.

“Normally you would lift the top and put the bag over the edge, but when you drop a couple of tin cans in, it just drops right through to the bottom.

“I contacted the council and they admitted there was a problem with their suppliers.

“They said they were looking into it, but I never got anywhere with them.”

Mr Davey said he was concerned that the council could be getting a raw deal from suppliers.

A spokesman for Braintree Council said: “We became aware that our supplier had provided some batches of clear recycling sacks that did not meet our specification.

“They have now replaced these at their own expense and provided additional sacks to compensate the council.

“We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused and will send out any additional sacks required to customers on request.”