Residents of a retirement complex have been forced to fork out £1,200 for new bins after being told their old ones - which had been in use for 27 years - were too big.

Pensioners at Barden Court in Maidstone say they had never had a problem with their rubbish being taken away.

But when Suez took over waste collection in the borough at the end of March, their communal bins were not emptied and started overflowing.

The contractor replaced previous provider, Biffa, following a new multi-million-pound deal with Maidstone, Swale and Ashford.

Barden Court development manager Angela Dalton says rubbish at the complex has only been collected a few times since.

She said: “My oldest resident is 97 – I can’t have them trying to reach and pile rubbish on.

“It’s a health and safety issue as well as an environmental one.”

Maidstone council has told her the bins – which have been at the site since it opened – are too big and never complied with its regulations.

But Angela has queried how the refuse had been collected with no issues before the contract change.

“Why has it taken them 27 years to realise?” she asked.

“My residents are extremely upset, and angry – they did not give us any notice that we needed to change our bins, just let us carry on filling them and then decided they will not be emptied.”

Confusingly, the rubbish has been collected a few times, which Angela says shows they have some trucks capable of emptying them.

And now, the complex has been invoiced for the cost for buying new bins, as well as for removing the old ones.

“This is totally disgusting – my residents pay their council tax and now they will have to pay for this,” said Angela.

“They pay the council for a service who have completed failed to comply with the contract they have with Maidstone residents – it is a complete disgrace.”

The residents have reluctantly paid £1,200 for three new bins after the council waived the costs of collecting the old ones – but Angela maintains it is unfair for them to pay.

She said: “We should never have been in this situation in the first place.

“This has been a lot of stress and heartache for nothing.”

A formal complaint has been made to the council by the manager.

A council spokesperson said: “Managing agents are responsible for the purchase of bulk waste bins which must meet the correct specification of 1,100-litre metal containers with a flat lid to EN840 standard.

“The council was advised by the managing agent that the bins were 25 years old and regardless of their age, did not meet the required specification.

“The council has never supplied plastic bulk waste containers.

“Following negotiation between council officers and the managing agents, all issues have now been resolved.”

The new bins were delivered last week.