A boss of trouble-plagued refuse collection firm Sita will be quizzed tonight over a lighting strike that affected thousands of homes in Mid Sussex.

Rubbish collectors stopped work in Mid Sussex just after Christmas in a row over pay.

They completed less than 20 per cent of the scheduled collections in the Burgess Hill, East Grinstead, and Haywards Heath area before stopping work for a day.

About 70 employees were involved in the dispute, which centred on staff claiming extra pay for clearing the Christmas backlog.

Sita regional director Michael Martin will attend a 20-minute question and answer session at a full meeting of Mid Sussex District Council tonight.

The Council said it found the disruption "completely unacceptable".

During the dispute the crews emptied their lorries at Fairplace Hill tip on the edge of Burgess Hill in the middle of the morning.

They then returned to their depot in Bridge Road, Haywards Heath, while talks were held with Sita bosses.

The stoppage also involved road sweepers and recyling workers.

GMB union spokesman Declan MacIntyre said bin lorry drivers had been offered £70 and rubbish loaders £61.90, but workers sought £140 across the board.

They say Sita employees in Brighton and Hove were paid more than them.