A senior manager of the firm which empties Mid Sussex's bins admitted last night: "We got it wrong."

Sita had to bring in extra workers and trucks to deal with a backlog after workers staged a one-day lightning strike.

About 70 employees walked out over Christmas in a row over bonuses. Icy weather then put collections several more days behind.

Sita regional manager Michael Martin yesterday faced a special meeting of Mid Sussex Council at Haywards Heath to explain the company's performance.

He said: "We are very sorry that we did not meet your expectations and your residents' expectations of our service over the Christmas period."

"The level of missed collections that you have been experiencing are unacceptable. I am not just talking about those in the Christmas period. I am also talking about the level of missed collections you have been experiencing up to the Christmas period."

Mr Martin added: "I am not trying to lay the blame at anybody's door but my own, our own. We got it wrong."

He said crews had been working late and through weekends to clear the backlog and the service was now back on schedule.

Mr Martin also admitted there had been "inexperience" in dealings with the unions.

But he said the dispute, over workers' requests for a £140 "catch-up" payment for Christmas collections had been concluded and a much lower sum agreed.

Council chairman Christine Field said: "I am delighted to hear the re-assurances that we have been given"

But several councillors said staff morale appeared to be low.