A Devizes couple had to store their rubbish in their kitchen because it took Wiltshire Council more than a month to deliver their bins.

Mark Beaumont, 28, and 25-year-old Eleanor Potter, who are expecting their first child in December, moved into their flat over shops in Sidmouth Street on June 22.

Miss Potter, who works at the Co-op store in Market Lavington, said: “We told the council we needed bins and were told it would take 21 days.

“We had to store our rubbish in the flat because we were told we weren’t allowed to leave it on the street.”

The 21 days passed with no sign of a wheelie bin, orange bag or black recycling box.

Mr Beaumont, who works at Hayden’s Bakeries, said: “We had all new things like a freezer, so we had all the packaging from that.

“Neither of us has a car so we couldn’t take it up to the recycling centre at Hopton.”

Instead members of their respective families have taken it away before it became a health hazard.

Mr Beaumont said: “You really wonder what you’re paying your council tax for.”

A spokesman for Wiltshire Council said it had not received a request from Miss Potter until June 27, which meant they were still within the 21 working days.

He added: “The bins Miss Potter requested will be with her shortly.”

The couple said their bins finally arrived on Saturday.

Miss Potter said she had requested the bins as soon as they had moved in but, as she had not heard anything by June 27, she rang again.

Wiltshire Council has said everyone in the county will get kerbside recycling facilities from October this year.