STAFF shortages caused by the pandemic mean Wirral's brown bin collections are operating on a four-weekly service for the time being.

The garden waste collection service took a scheduled break over Christmas and New Year and was scheduled to return to business from today.

Unfortunately, due to a reduction in bin collections staff, Biffa, Wirral Council's waste collection contractor, does not have enough people to restart the brown bin collections on a fortnightly basis as planned.

A spokesperson for the council said: "Staffing levels are too low due to those who are shielding or have confirmed or suspected symptoms.

"This is a temporary arrangement to prioritise the collection of green (general waste) and grey (recycling) bins.

"Current subscribers to the garden waste collection service should visit the council’s website to find out when their new collection date will be.

"Subscribers to the garden waste collection service will receive all of the postponed collections from the previous subscription year before needing to sign up again."

For the latest updates on bin collections, visit www.wirral.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling, follow Wirral Council on Facebook or Twitter.