FOOTAGE shows the vast amount of rubbish piling up on the streets as the bin strike enters its second week.

Brighton's large waste bins can be seen overflowing with rubbish bags in the centre of town, including opposite Victoria Gardens and North Street.

The pictures come as Brighton and Hove enters its seventh day of industrial action by refuse workers over a pay and working conditions dispute.

A ballot by the GMB union held last month saw unanimous support for a two week long walk out.

GMB are calling on the council to settle the dispute around the removal of drivers from long-standing rounds and other changes.

Talks to resolve the issue have been ongoing between union representatives and councillors but, although meetings are said to be "productive," no solution has been reached.

Labour have now called on the Green-led council to call in an independent mediator to deal with the situation and end the strike.

In a statement, the party said: "Labour is clear that when industrial disputes reach an impasse, it can be really beneficial to bring in some independent and objective advice and expertise.

"With the bin strike having been ongoing for almost a week now, and rubbish and recycling piling up on the streets of Brighton and Hove with residents suffering, Labour are keen to find a solution to end the dispute."

The GMB union have said that council, led by Phelim Mac Cafferty, should "stop burying their heads in the sand and take notice of the seriousness of the dispute".

Should the council and GMB fail to reach a solution to end the dispute, residents of the city will be set for another week of uncollected rubbish, and could face a second fortnight of strike action from October 21.

Branch secretary Mark Turner said: "They have been told time and time again about the service issues and detriment to our members' health and well-being resulting around tinkering with well-established rounds and moving of HGV drivers outside of their own council formal procedures, yet they ignored our members and workplace reps’ complaints allowing it to go on anyway.”

Have you got a story for us? Email news@theargus.co.uk or contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox.

You can also call us on 01273 021 400.