RESIDENTS in the Vale of White Horse area are being warned about a bogus letter threatening people over the new waste collection service.

Two sets of residents in the Wantage area have received a letter claiming to come from the council accusing them of failing to comply with the new service.

The letter warns them they could be fined, or stop getting their bins collected. The council is advising residents that the letter is completely false.

Chief executive David Buckle said: “At the moment we don’t know whether this is an isolated incident, someone’s idea of a joke, or a deliberate scam.

“Whichever it is, it is extremely unhelpful, and could be seen as quite threatening for some residents.

“We have always made it very clear that we have no plans to fine or penalise residents in any way for putting items in the wrong bin.”

The council switched to fortnightly waste collection and introduced wheelie bins on October 4.

Shortly after the new system was introduced, it emerged that the council and contractors Verdant were fielding 1,000 inquiries a day about the new system. Then the council revealed that during the first two weeks of the service the council’s recycling rate improved from 39 per cent to 83 per cent.

Mr Buckle added: “We are treating this matter very seriously and urge any resident who receives a similar letter to report it to us by calling 01235 520202.”