A NEW scheme for the collection of refuse across Darlington borough is already causing chaos - despite not having officially started.

Some residents in Hurworth found their rubbish was not collected last week while others were told it would not be collected unless placed on the kerbside.

Sparked by a council leaflet found in the local community centre which revealed a summer start date for a new system, the confusion saw complaints flood in to Hurworth parish councillors.

Disabled and elderly residents, who feared they would be unable to drag a bin or bag to a collection point, were also said to be anxious about the scheme.

At Tuesday's meeting of the parish council, Coun John Lawrie called for clarification. He said: "I read the waste management leaflet in the community centre and thought it was a spoof document until I turned it over.

"There it talks of a new system where bins and bags must be placed at the kerbside for collection from this summer.

"Notification has not been put through any door to tell us this is now happening and two ladies have already told me they are not capable of carrying bins or bags to any kerb.

"What provision has the council made for all the people who can't do this?"

Conservative ward councillor Rod Burtt said that an article in this month's Town Crier magazine had fanned the flames.

He said: "The article raised fears instead of dousing them. The council said a register would be created listing everyone unable to carry rubbish to the kerbside.

"But the cost of producing this will be phenomenal. This change is the result of a best value review on waste management but clearly it isn't going to be efficient at all."

The D&S Times contacted the council to report the confusion and was told the scheme was not scheduled to begin until September.

A council spokeswoman said: "Everybody will receive a leaflet through their door nearer the time and more information will appear in next month's Town Crier so everyone will know what to do and when.

"Elderly and disabled people will be able to apply for assisted collections and the criteria for these will also be published in the leaflets.

"We will look into what happened in Hurworth last week and we apologise for any confusion that may have resulted from the leaflet.