PILES of rubbish are stacked high as a controversial bin strike continues to cause havoc on the streets.

Mounds of uncollected waste litter areas of Worthing and Adur as refuse workers continue their walkout amid a row over pay and working conditions.

Despite the offer of a big pay rise from the council, GMB has ploughed on with the strike action which is expected to last for two weeks.

Pictures taken from Marine Place, Worthing, shows the scale of the mess, with bins overflowing with black rubbish bags rammed full of junk.

A spokesman from Adur and Worthing councils said: "The GMB has informed us that its members at our refuse, recycling and cleansing department will continue to strike for the next two weeks, up to and including Sunday, April 10.

"Unfortunately this means there will again be no refuse, recycling, green waste, commercial waste or bulky item collections today.

"We met with representatives from the GMB and the recognised union at the councils, Unison, on Thursday to begin talks on a recognition deal that would allow both unions to negotiate on pay and conditions for staff in the refuse, recycling and cleansing team.

The Argus:

"Our officers are currently working at pace on the documents needed under industrial relations laws for this process to begin.

"We have asked the GMB to pause its action while these talks are progressing but the union has refused."

In October last year Adur and Worthing Councils began an internal review into the pay of 109 members of staff in its refuse, recycling and cleansing department.

Now, as a result of the review, 65 members of staff have been moved up a grade and a further 40 who are required to drive HGVs regularly as part of their role will get a permanent annual £2,700 specialist skills supplement.

Four more will get both the annual specialist skills supplement and be moved up a grade.

Each member of staff who has been regraded moved to their new band with a pay rise on March 2.

They will get further pay rises on September 1 this year and then on April 1, 2023 - worth a total of at least six per cent - as well as the national pay rise of 1.75 per cent.