A team of binmen who were sacked for collecting ‘banned rubbish’ have been given their jobs back.

Dave Clark, Rob Jefford, Alex Steven and Mark Reddick were fired for gross misconduct after picking up some building waste.

But they said they were just doing what they were told.

The crew, who between them have worked for Veolia for 27 years, were sacked on November 7, without a written or verbal warning.

After a complaint by a resident, bosses at the waste firm had reviewed footage taken from their dust cart camera.

Their dismissal prompted outrage from many residents, particularly those living in Grain where the crew collected on Fridays, who said how friendly and efficient they were.

One person created an online petition calling for them to be reinstated, which gained 2,300 signatures, and a cash collection was set up in the village.

Following an internal hearing, Veolia has now given all four men their jobs back.

"We were just trying to do our jobs" - binman Alex Steven, speaking last month

When people in Grain found out, they were posting online to congratulate them.

Donna Fry Mills wrote: “Congrats, now you can have a worry free Chrimbo and New Year.”

Christine Thomas wrote: “Great bunch of chaps glad you’re coming back.”

Mel Lyon added: “I am so pleased for you. It should never have happened in the first place. Welcome back lads.”

A Veolia spokesperson said: “Following an appeal hearing, we can confirm the four Kent refuse operatives have been reinstated.

“They will return to work on a mutually agreed date, as part of our Medway team.”

The men were back at work from Monday this week.

Speaking last month, Mr Steven, 49, of Layfield Road, Gillingham, said: “We were just trying to help an old man out. He had moved in and all these things had been left. We were just trying to do our jobs.

“We have had problems in the same road before. Whenever we would radio in [about collecting an item], we were always told to just throw it in."

Mr Clark, 51, of Forge Lane, Gillingham, said at the time: “We weren’t doing anything different to what every other crew does every day of the week.

“Ask anyone and they will tell you what a good crew we were.”