Rubbish dumped at leader's home

Police were inside Mr Brett's house when the bags of rubbish were dumped

Security has been tightened at the home of Leeds City Council's leader after 14 bags of rubbish were left at his house.

The bags were dumped on Richard Brett's doorstep on Wednesday, as a strike by refuse collectors and street cleaners in the city entered its 10th day.

The council said the bags had posters attached which read "solidarity with striking Leeds refuse collectors".

West Yorkshire Police are currently investigating a threatening message left on Mr Brett's answerphone.

The council said officers were inside Mr Brett's home making inquiries about the telephone message when a car pulled up outside and someone unloaded the bags.

The dumped rubbish is more of an inconvenience - but it does prove how low people are prepared to go Richard Brett Leeds City Council leader

In the message, the caller accused the councillor of lying about the industrial action, then went on to say "be ready Mr Brett".

Unions have said they do not condone any threats and there was "no evidence" to connect it to their members.

Mr Brett said: "The dumped rubbish is more of an inconvenience - but it does prove how low people are prepared to go."

Council employees have been picketing refuse depots in the city since last week in the pay row.

The GMB and Unison unions are unhappy with what they say are proposals by the authority to cut their pay by up to £6,000 a year from February 2011.

The council, which is run by a Conservative-Lib Dem coalition, has brought in private contractors and agency staff to help clear rubbish from the city as the strike by about 500 workers continues.

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