Residents complaining about bins overflowing with piles of rubbish and dirty nappies need to recycle more, according to council bosses.

Brighton and Hove City Council have refused to provide occupants of flats in Harmsworth Crescent, Hangleton Park, Hove, with an extra communal bin for household waste.

Residents insist the three permanent bins provided are not sufficient for 26 flats and said their weekends and Bank Holidays are marred by sacks of stinking waste left laying in the street.

Phillipa Sillence, 40, of Harmsworth Crescent, who works for a cleaning company, said the situation has now got so bad she is considering moving.

She said: “I have lived here for 19 years but the last five weeks have been hell. Every morning myself and a neighbour go out and sweep but it is not my job to go out there and clean up. It is becoming really depressing and now I actually want to move.

“The residents are up in arms. No one is taking responsibility for the rubbish.”

Miss Sillence added that since the bins were introduced five weeks ago the area has been plagued by foxes and rats which rip open the bin bags scattering rubbish over the road.

Ann Kermey, 48, who also lives on the crescent and is unable to work because of arthritis, said: “The stress of five weeks of this is affecting my health. I have practically begged them for an extra bin but I feel like we are talking to the wall.

“There were over 20 rubbish bags overflowing over the weekend and it ruined the Easter holiday.”

Hangleton and Knoll councillors Dawn Barnett and David Smart visited the site yesterday, but believe that the problem is caused by fly-tippers and that an extra bin is not necessarily a solution.

Tory Coun Barnett said: “ I cannot blame City Clean. I feel very sorry for residents but they are not recycling up there.

“People had crammed washing machine drums and a buggy box into the bins and they had three mattresses dumped there.

“There are an awful lot of residents who take pride in where they live but many who are abusing the area.”

A council spokesman said: “In most cases where bins are deemed too small it’s because not enough material is being recycled. So we’re going to increase storage for recycled materials and that should hopefully relieve pressure on the bins. So while the bin's temporary we want a permanent solution.”