MONTHS’ worth of rubbish has been cleared up from a housing estate after a councillor and residents implored waste management services to take action.

Dozens of bags of rubbish had accumulated outside a block of flats on John Mace Road, leaving residents fearful of the hygiene risks and angry at the lack of action from Peabody, the management operators in charge of the flats.

Gazette: Pile-up – the rubbish had not been cleared since before Christmas timePile-up – the rubbish had not been cleared since before Christmas time

But the rubbish was collected for the first time since Christmas on Friday evening after David Harris, the Labour Councillor for Maypole, got involved to try and get the rubbish cleared up.

He had previously branded the six-week rubbish pile-up “disgraceful.”

Colchester Council had previously commented their powers were limited by the fact that the flats were private property.

Gazette: Cleared – a skip was hired to clear up six weeks' worth of rubbishCleared – a skip was hired to clear up six weeks' worth of rubbish

But the council were able to threaten Peabody with further action on the matter if the rubbish was left uncollected for much longer.