Steve Jones can boast having had more rubbish holidays than most.

Every year, the former binman travels all over the country to track down local waste tips and work on the dustcarts for free.

Steve's eccentric hobby has taken him as far afield as the Lake District, South Wales, Cornwall, Lancashire, Kent, Sussex and the Isles of Scilly.

Steve, 40, who left the waste industry in 2001 and is now a self-employed gardener, said: "People think I have a strange hobby but nothing comes close to the thrill of riding in a dustcart.

Put simply my life revolves around dustcarts. Bachelor Steve Jones

"It's wonderful watching them in action. Even if I can't join in I love seeing them crush the waste and dump it at the tip.

"Put simply my life revolves around dustcarts."

Every summer for 17 years, Steve took a holiday at Shanklin on the Isle of Wight just so he could join in with dustmen there.

His love of the island's refuse rounds eventually persuaded him to move there from west London.

Now bachelor Steve has got hold of two dustcarts and is restoring them in an old barn near his home in Lake.

Phil Webb, a supervisor for Island Waste Services, said Steve was well known among dustcart crews on the Isle of Wight.

He said: "Everyone has known him for years as he used to come and join in the rounds wearing orange overalls - our lads wear green.

"They thought it was a little odd but were glad for the help."