Residents have expressed their "outrage" at the decision from two councils to keep bin collections running as normal on Monday.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Tonbridge and Malling Council are the only local authorities in Kent not calling on their refuse collectors to stand down for the Queen's funeral.

Bosses at the 11 other districts and boroughs have suspended services and allowed bin crews to have the day off.

Unimpressed resident Lois Gray fears staff will face abuse for disturbing the day of national mourning.

"They are being made to be disrespectful during the funeral, that with their loud bin wagons," she said.

"They already receive a lot of abuse from the public, so I'd hate to think how the public would react to them disturbing a time of mourning.

"They aren't being given the opportunity to have the day off to mourn, but they also dread the day due to the fact they will most likely receive abuse from the public.

"Many of us citizens are outraged.

"It's not hard to move Monday's bin day along by one day, as demonstrated by every other town in Kent, and they have also done so in the past."

Bryan Nichols said: "Let the dustmen have a day off. Disgraceful the way they're treated."

In relation to Tunbridge Wells, fellow resident Dan Bennett said: "As one of a few ‘Royal’ towns I’d expect more from the council."

The continuation of the refuse collections has, however, split opinion, with others coming to the councils' defence.

'Our essential services, including waste collection, will be operating as scheduled in line with government guidance...'

Geoff Wentworth said: "Councils seriously can't win can they?

"When your rubbish collection is delayed because they need to catch up I am guessing that you are going to be displeased."

In replying to residents questioning the decision on its Facebook page, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council stressed it was following government guidance.

"The guidance issued to councils is clear that ‘the delivery of essential public services should continue during the period of national mourning, including on the Bank Holiday’," a post reads.

"Urbaser (bin contractor) generally operates as normal on all Bank Holidays and informed us that it was proposing to operate as normal on the 19th.

"In light of the government guidance and our desire to minimise knock-on disruption to rounds throughout the rest of the week - and potentially into the following week - we agreed that collections and cleansing operations could go ahead.

"Our essential services, including waste collection, will be operating as scheduled in line with government guidance. Collections will start early from 6am and crews will pause activity to observe the two-minute silence."

Meanwhile, a statement from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council reads: "It is usual for collections to take place on bank holidays in the borough.

"We have asked that recycling and waste crews be respectful, and pause collections and observe the national two minute’s silence as the state funeral draws to a close."

The majority of Kent councils are pushing back the bin collections by one day, while others are reshuffling the week's schedule.

Both Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and Malling councils have been contacted for further comment.