Arun district residents are being warned that there will be teething problems with a new refuse collection system.

The Verdant Group is temporarily taking on Arun's troubled waste collection contract.

District council officials say there will be reduced refuse collection on June 28 and 29 while the 110-strong workforce familiarise themselves with a new fleet of vehicles.

Kevin Basford, Arun's head of environmental amenities, said: "Essential cover will be maintained in key areas such as town centres, sea fronts, dog bin servicing, litter bin emptying and public convenience cleaning.

"Arun District Council and Verdant will be working hard to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible."

The service was thrown into crisis in February when Onyx UK pulled out of its contract with Arun eight years early, blaming "unsustainable losses".

Council officials had to race against time to organise a new collection service.

In April, they announced that Verdant would run the service for a 19-month interim period while a long-term solution was worked out.

Councillor Stephen Brookman, Arun Cabinet member with responsibility for the environment, said: "The next 19 months will be used to make progress towards our national recycling targets and to prepare a further contract for February 2005."