CHRISTMAS may now be a distant memory for many of us, but there’s plenty of reminders still scattered around the streets of Leigh.

More than three weeks into the new year and dozens of discarded Christmas trees haven’t been collected from the pavements around town.

Streets in Westcliff also gave Christmas trees littering grass verges nearly a month after the big day. 

Pines, spruces and firs lay outside homes in the areas around Leigh Road, Pall Mall, Leighton Avenue, Grand Drive and even on Leigh Broadway.

Sarah Atkins, 41, of Grand Drive, said: “It’s a bit of a joke now, isn’t it?

“I put mine out almost a month ago.

“I don’t know why the council advertises its tree collection service yet doesn’t collect the trees.

“I’ll probably take mine up the dump as I’m sick of walking past it every morning while taking the children to school.

“OK, I suppose it’s not a huge deal in the bigger scheme of things, but it is a bit annoying.’

David Curtis, 32, of Pall Mall,said: “The school run can be a bit like a mini obstacle course now.

“You must step out in the road a little too often.”

Leigh ward Liberal councillor Carole Mulroney said: “I’ve seen people that keep them in their front garden and potted, which the tree collection services will not take.

“The social media information about the tree collections went out before it was available in January and if people put them out incorrectly, or someone kicks them out in the road, or if there are missed collections, they are told about what to do on My Southend.

“I’ve seen Christmas trees left in the road where I live. I will report them but as a general point, people don’t always leave them in the best place.

“On the Broadway itself, there are many flats so if they have no rear they put them out on the street.”

Southend councillor Tony Cox said: “I will look to see what can be done. If there were trees that were missed in the collections, and I will be alerting collectors to these locations.”