RESIDENTS are being urged to put their bins out early to make sure they are collected.

Operational changes are being made to the way Rochford District Council collects rubbish to ensure collection vehicles will have shorter distances to travel to the transfer facility.

Rochford District Council’s head of environmental services, Richard Evans, said: “While we have always advised residents to present their bins before 7am many collections are currently made after this time.

"However, under the new arrangements these collections may be earlier so we urge people to ensure their bins are presented by 7am in order to guarantee their collection."

The changes will be in place from June 1.