A green waste collection service has proved so popular that the company providing it is having to turn away customers.

Thousand of Arun District Council residents have taken advantage of an offer from waste collection company Verdant to collect their biodegradable rubbish.

For an annual charge of £35, plus VAT, customers get a 240 litre wheelie bin which is emptied every two weeks.

The waste is not taken to landfill but is composted instead.

The scheme, which started last February, has been such a success that Verdant has already reached its maximum number of 5,000 customers for its first year and is now having to refuse any more requests.

A spokesman for Arun District Council said: "We recognise this is unsatisfactory for customers and we are in dialogue with Verdant with the intention of further developing the green waste scheme to meet customer demand."

In the meantime, the council is recommending other ways of disposing of the vegetable matter such as composting it at home or taking it to a local tip.

Burning it is not recommended but if people do decide to have a bonfire they should contact Arun's environmental health team on 01903 737826 to get advice on how not to create a nuisance for their neighbours.