Shelly Diamond cannot lift the dustbins kept at the back of the Victorian property she lives in in Arundel Road. But as she is not disabled or elderly refuse collectors will not help her.

Instead, Eastbourne Borough Council advised her to leave the rubbish sacks outside and they have been ripped apart by seagulls, with her baby's nappies and other rubbish left on the road.

Mrs Diamond said she struggled to move the dustbins from the communal bin area, which is accessed by steep steps, to the front of the property.

Her husband works night shifts and often is not there to help.

She said, "I have rung the council and they haven't said to me, don't worry, we will get the men to take it, even though one of the residents is disabled and even though they come down the path anyway to the bins and take hers out but will not do it for me.

"I don't think this is very community minded. It's not thinking about individual cases, it's almost like talking to closed ears."

A council spokesman said assisted collections were only offered to disabled, frail or elderly people. To offer them to anyone else would have huge cost implications.

He added, "In very exceptional circumstances, where it is not practicable to use a wheeled bin due to site constraints, we may be able to agree to sacks being left at the boundary of the property and in cases where these are split the refuse contractor will ensure waste is not left in the street."

But Mrs Diamond said waste was left in the street as refuse collectors often did not turn up until 1pm and, when they did, did not clean up the rubbish properly.

She said, "Life is busy and hectic enough when you have children without this and when you are upsetting other people as well that doesn't feel very nice.

"I am trying to sort this out but it's not just me it is affecting. I have come out to find other residents picking up my rubbish."
The council said officers would continue to talk to Mrs Diamond to try to resolve the problem.