Apology over bin strike targets

Mr Brett said the collections had not gone as well as they had hoped

Leeds City Council has failed to meet its pledge of fortnightly refuse collections during the bin strike, its leader has said.

Richard Brett apologised after it emerged that the bins of some members of the public had not yet been emptied.

Hundreds of refuse and street cleaning workers have vowed to strike indefinitely in a row over pay.

Leeds MP Hilary Benn has called on the council to drop preconditions for talks and get round the negotiating table.

The council has hired private contractors in a bid to sort out overflowing bins and rubbish-strewn streets, which some residents say has led to problems with flies and rats.

Mr Brett told BBC News he accepted that the collections "had not gone quite as well as I had hoped".

"There are still some bin collections that we have not yet done," he said.

Rubbish has been piling up in some streets. Picture by Muriel Rogers

"We are doing all we can. I want to apologise to the people whose bins we have not collected and we want to be made aware of any places we have missed."

He added that he hoped 95% of homes in Leeds would have their bins collected by the end of the week.

The council has said it is prepared to talk with workers, but only if the strike ends.

Negotiating table

Leeds MP Hilary Benn said: "My constituents are looking at the rubbish piling up and they are wondering how it is going to be sorted out.

"I have spoken to the workers, they are facing significant pay cuts.

"They are ready to get round the table and negotiate, any time, any place.

"The trouble is the council is placing a precondition on the talks resuming.

"I think they should lift that precondition because people want this sorted.

"Everybody knows it can only be done by getting round the table and negotiating and the sooner it happens, the better."

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