Dozens of binmen are furious after they were told they will be banned from wearing shorts at work.

The refuse collectors in Worthing have been told managers at Adur and Worthing Services want them to wear protective trousers on health and safety grounds.

But the binmen claim it is the latest ridiculous change in guidelines since Worthing and Adur Councils combined their cleaning services last November.

They do not know of any binmen in Worthing who have suffered leg injuries and say trousers are too hot to wear.

More than half wear shorts in the summer and some wear them throughout the year.

Refuse collector John Gladman said: "You have to wonder what they'll think up next. They'll be wanting us to wear perfumed masks and hard hats soon."

Adur binmen wear heavy protective trousers and the new rule in Worthing could be introduced in September.

Simon Walton, who was wearing council-issue shorts he collected just four weeks ago, said he only found out about the changes when speaking to a roadsweeper last week.

Mr Walton, 38, has been collecting bins for 15 years and has never been hurt.

He said: "If we're trying to avoid getting injured, does this mean we'll have to wear long-sleeved shirts to protect our arms?

"Ever since we have gone in with Adur we have had to go by Adur rules. I can understand why they have to wear trousers there because they collect bin bags all day and could cut themselves but we collect wheelie bins where there isn't the same danger of getting hurt."

Since the cleaning services were combined, binmen in Worthing say they have had changes imposed on them which make little sense.

Complaints include no smoking in the depot and having to start truck engines later to avoid residents' concerns about noise.

Mr Walton said that left only ten minutes before beginning rounds at 6.30am, not enough time to properly defrost windscreens and hydraulics in winter.

Ken Green, who is head of operations at Adur and Worthing Services, said workwear for binmen, roadsweepers and recycling staff was being reviewed as part Worthing Borough Council's risk assessment following recent injuries in the industry.

He said no decision had been made and health and safety officers at Worthing and Adur councils will meet next month to discuss the situation.

Unison regional branch organiser Vic Willis said the union was seeking a meeting with Worthing Council's health and safety officer and the services manager.

He said: "In the meantime the directive has been put back to September."