OXFORD City Council will make people pay for its bulky waste collection, a service which is currently free.

When people want to dispose of fridges, matresses or old furniture they can currently get this service for free if there are only a few items.

But a charge is being introduced in April to cover the cost of the services, after changes in made in the recently approved council budget.

Nigel Chapman, the council's cabinet member for customer focused services, said it had 'long fought to maintain this as a free service' but can no longer afford to do so due to mounting costs from the pandemic.

From April 1 the new charges apply.

These are £20 for a bulky waste collection that does not include large electrical or white goods.

Large electrical and white good collections will be charged at £30 per item.