REFUSE collections across Caerphilly county borough council will be suspended until Tuesday because of a bitter strike between a local authority and its litter-pickers.

Caerphilly council decided to halt refuse collections while street cleansers are out on strike today and next Monday, and are picketing their two refuse depots in Penmaen and Tir-y-Berth.

Ground maintenance staff will also not be crossing the picket line. Last-ditch talks, aimed at breaking the deadlock between the council and the litter-pickers over the issue of bonus pay, failed yesterday evening. This means refuse collectors will be working round the clock from Tuesday onwards to clear a backlog of rubbish.

The council have recruited agency workers to prevent this weekend's Big Cheese Festival in Caerphilly - which is expected to attract nearly 100,000 - from turning into an eyesore.

Litter-pickers have taken the industrial action because workers taken on in the department after January 2001 receive £20 less than their counterparts, who are on £86 a week in bonus on top of their basic wage.

GMB regional organiser Mike Payne claims the council surreptitiously inserted a clause into the new contracts and has vowed to escalate industrial action to achieve equal bonus pay for union members. "We hope the public realise that this isn't what we want to do, and we apologise in advance for any disruption, but we have been backed into a corner," said Mr Payne.

"Management have tried to intimidate our members by threatening them with the sack, and have said they are prepared to put the service out to tender, but this has only made our resolve harder and less likely to look for compromise. I hope they will soon see sense."

Leader of the council Harry Andrews added: "We are bitterly disappointed with this decision and I would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by the action."