A WIRRAL lifeboat crew has received an apology and refund after being charged to tip more than 20 bags of leaves after a community clear-up project.

New Brighton RNLI volunteers had to pay for a permit when they went to dump 25 bags, two plastic chairs and cardboard boxes at Bidston Waste Recycling Centre last week.

Every year, the crew of New Brighton Lifeboat collects bags of leaves and piles them outside the station ready for collection by Biffa.

But they decided this year to take it to the tip themselves and loaded the rubbish into the station's 4x4 rescue vehicle.

On arrival at the centre, the crew was told that the bags counted as "trade waste"and they would have to pay £15 for a permit and a further £15 to get the vehicle onto the site.

The tip is operated by Veolia environmental services.

The charge was refunded today, following talks between the lifeboat crew and Carl Beer, chief executive of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority.

He told the Globe: "I have apologised to RNLI New Brighton whose recent experience at Bidston Household Waste Recycling Centre fell below expected customer relations standards.

"Veolia (the authority's contractor which runs the site) has issued a refund of the £30.00 charge to RNLI New Brighton, and I have also invited all RNLI local branches to apply for free charity disposal status.”

New Brighton Lifeboat's senior helmsman Dave Lowe told the Globe earlier this week that he was 'gobsmacked' when initially told the crew would have to pay for a permit to tip.

He said: "We normally fill bags with leaves every year and pile them up outside the station for Biffa to collect.

"But they get kicked around and split, meaning there are leaves everywhere, which is no good if the winds blowing it all over the place. So we decided this year to take It to the tip ourselves.

"We were gobsmacked when the receptionist told us we needed to pay for a permit and to drive the 4x4 in.

"We had no choice but to pay for the permit, because we needed to tip the rubbish.

"We should be able to get it back from charity, but shouldn't need to do it.

"For a charity to be charged £15 to tip rubbish is appalling."