After two weeks of suspended rounds, recycling bins in parts of Tonbridge and Malling were missed again on the day collections were supposed to resume.

Last month, the borough council announced all recycling collections would come to a halt until July 12 because its contractor Urbaser was struggling with the national shortage of HGV drivers.

Collections were supposed to resume again yesterday while efforts to address the shortfall were made but some residents say once again their bins were missed and their rubbish was not removed until this morning.

In a statement online, the council says the reason is still being put down to a shortage of drivers.

It added: "Although a recent recruitment drive and a number of related actions has meant that driver numbers have increased sufficiently to reinstate recycling services, if you know qualified HGV drivers looking for work, please ask them to apply.

"As of July 12, recycling collections have started again and normal service should resume.

"However some roads will not be completed in Blue Bell Hill, Chatham and Walderslade, so please leave your recycling bins and boxes out and we will be back first thing on Tuesday, July 13."

Kasmir Cheema, Chair of Friends Of Bluebell Hill Village, said residents are frustrated that nothing has changed.

He added: "As far as I know Mill Lane and Warren Road were collected yesterday and so were parts of Common Road but mine were not collected along with so many others.

"Today we put the bins out again and they did get collected at 8am but it is just a joke, everything was supposed to have been corrected by now.

"They're saying it was still because of a shortage of drivers but if it wasn't that, it would be something else.

"The whole village is fed up."

In a bid to reduce kerbside waste during the suspension, five temporary recycling bins were placed around the borough which can continue to be used.

Kent County Council has put the cardboard and paper banks near Sainsbury's in the Angel Centre car park, near Longmead at Tonbridge Farm Sports Ground, at Asda in Kings Hill, Borough Green railway station and Larkfield Leisure Centre.

Urbaser took over the contract in March 2019 and has faced troubles ever since.

Last month the company was fined by two councils for being late in collections.

Read more: All the latest news from Malling

Read more: All the latest news from Tonbridge