Recycling collections were missed in and around Wells yesterday (April 22) due to staff shortages and extra recycling being put out.

There has been a lot more recycling to collect due to the health situation and fewer Somerset Waste Partnership staff than usual with dozens still self-isolating because of symptoms or vulnerable people in their families.

This meant that recycling collections were missed yesterday in Wells, Wookey Hole, Haybridge and Easton.

The streets that missed recycling include Balch Road, Coronation Road, Easton Hill, Ebbor Lane, Fairways, Gagley Lane, Glencot Road, Haybridge Hill, High Street, Kennel Batch, Orchard Paddock, Reakes Close, Titlands Lane, Tudway Close and Wells Road.

If your recycling is missed, the partnership does not have the staff to make immediate return collections and have asked residents to take in boxes and food waste bins, and they will be back next week.

For the few whose recycling has been missed for two weeks running, residents are asked to report it to the partnership and they will do our best to get back as soon as possible.

Also, waste collection crews in Somerset are poised to distribute "please park carefully" notes in solidarity with fire service colleagues this week.

Staff working for Somerset Waste Partnership's new contractor Suez will be putting the polite notices from the fire service on to the windscreens of the rising number of problem parkers.

With the coronavirus lockdown meaning more people working from home, inconsiderate parking is becoming a big issue for the partnership and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

The cars are often legally parked, but parked in a way that makes it difficult for recycling and rubbish collections trucks to negotiate narrower streets.

They have meant collection crews haven't been able to make some recycling and rubbish collections – and this despite having smaller vehicles at their disposal as part of a new fleet.

If recycling crews can't get through, fire appliances won't be able to either. The fire service is becoming increasingly concerned that its crews could be seriously delayed getting to an emergency incident because of inconsiderate parking.

These parking problems are being seen across the area, from small villages with narrow streets to new estates with many more people at home.

A spokesperson from the partnership said: "With the amounts of recycling and rubbish being put out our crews are working really hard.

"Not being able to collect because they can't get down a street makes their job even harder and causes disruption to services.

"We know it can be hard for people to find somewhere to park at the moment, but we would ask people to think about this, especially on their collection day.

"For the emergency services it could be a matter of life and death. With more cars at home all day we know it is tough, but please do think when you park."

The fire service is asking people when parking their vehicle to:

- Park close to the kerb

- Leave enough space for a fire engine or an ambulance to pass

- Leave extra room near tight corners

- Fold in your wing mirror

Somerset Waste Partnership's depleted crews have been collecting spiralling levels of waste as a result of coronavirus, with the county's 16 recycling centres temporarily closed.

Garden waste collections have been suspended, as have collections of bulky waste and delivery of replacement and new recycling boxes and rubbish bins.