FRUSTRATED residents in Ynysddu stepped up their refusal to carry their refuse down steep steps - by dumping 50 bags of it outside their local councillor's home.

Homeowners in Glenview Terrace are angry that Caerphilly borough council has stopped collecting rubbish from their back lane, claiming it is too narrow for the lorries. Locals were told to carry their wheelie bins down their front steps, which are so steep, they have nicknamed them the North Face of the Eiger.

Ward councillor Donald Cullen, said the change was to "ensure the safety of our workmen" and residents should accept it.

But, with several elderly and disabled people living in the street, they took drastic action, leaving their rubbish outside the Alexandra Road home of Councillor Cullen.

Karan Whittaker, 45, said: "We are paying him as our local councillor, but he is not supporting us. His lane at the back is so narrow that we kept hitting people's bins with our wing mirrors, yet they are still collecting from there.

"He told us to get on with it, so we decided to show him how bad it is to have a pile of rubbish outside your house. We are not doing this as a vendetta against the councillor, we are paying rates and all we want is something in return."

At first, the protesters took just two bags per household, but the total soon mounted up. And as they had timed their drop to take place around an hour after the refuse collectors had been, they believed he would have to endure the stench of rotting rubish for a week. However, they were stunned when they returned an hour later to find it had all been removed.

"You couldn't even tell we'd been there," said Mrs Whittaker. "Either he knew we were coming or he got the refuse men to come back. It's amazing how efficient they can be where his house is concerned."

Councillor Cullen said: "I would like to congratulate Mrs Whittaker on coming up with a solution to the problem. Putting the rubbish at a central point to be picked up at once is an excellent idea. I just don't understand why they need to carry it 500 yards, when all the council is asking them to do is put it outside their own homes."