A full investigation has been launched into the way a man was treated amid an alleged row over rubbish disposal at a recycling centre.

Paul Coward, of Coach Road in Acrise, near Hawkinge, featured in KentOnline's sister newspaper this week after he spoke of his week-long ordeal of trying to get rid of cardboard packaging from a kitchen.

He had fitted a new kitchen for his 81-year-old mother Win Coward, who had been in hospital undergoing a mastectomy.

Mr Coward, who sells supplements for a living, had hired a skip at her Phillip Road home in Cheriton, for the general construction waste but had some left over packaging to get rid of.

It was predominantly made up of cardboard.

So on Saturday, October 1, he attempted to use the Folkestone Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in Ross Way and was refused because he didn’t have a “level load.”

Then, he claimed that the workers phoned ahead to Whitfield, where Mr Coward went in a bid to tip his rubbish.

He was denied access there, too.

“It was like a vendetta,” he said. “I would never consider fly-tipping, but they had put me in a situation where I cannot get rid of it.

“I’m not usually a complainer but I just think this is ridiculous.”

After receiving an apology from Kent County Council and permission to use the recycling centre, Mr Coward tried again the following Friday, October 7.

It was then that Mr Coward claimed had been “challenged” and he alleged that workers surrounded him and his wife after he showed proof that they had not breached any regulations.

He was able to dispose of his rubbish on this occasion.

Waste disposal organisation Biffa has confirmed knowledge of the incident and has “apologised unreservedly.”

A spokesman for KCC said: “A Biffa senior manager has confirmed that he and a local Biffa manager have spoken with Mr Coward regarding the incident, and have apologised unreservedly for his experience at the Folkestone HWRC.

“The manager said that he is leading a full investigation into the incident, after which appropriate action will be taken.

“It is possible that the incident arose from a misunderstanding, but that does not excuse the way that Mr Coward and his wife were treated.”