BIN collections will be one day later than usual during the first week of January 2019.

The order of Green and Blue weeks will stay the same but collection days will not go back to normal until January 8.

To keep waste at a minimum, Colchester Council has reminded residents to recycle wrapping paper, plain cards and envelopes without glitter or metallic foil, glass bottles and cans, food and many plastics.

Real Christmas trees can be recycled through St Helena Hospice's Tree-cycle scheme, or sawn up and placed in the garden waste.

Sign up to the Tree-cycle at sthelena.org.uk.

To find your recycling and rubbish collection calendar, enter your postcode at colchester.gov.uk/recycling.