The bins for food and garden waste are collected every two weeks

For the past 18 months South Hams District Council has asked residents to put garden and food waste in special brown bins.

But the recent heatwave made the bins, which are collected every two weeks, smell and attract flies.

Now the council hopes residents will buy new sacks for the organic waste.

'Absolutely gross'

The council said on its website: "We've listened to your comments... and we're now providing these liners."

Spokesman James Spencer said: "The smell in the bins has been absolutely gross and the recent hot weather has made it worse.

"We hope that things will now change."

The not-for-profit sacks, which cost �3 for 50 direct from the council or �3.50 by post, are made from 100% compostable waste.

He said the council had no plans to increase the number of collections.

For residents who do not want to pay for the liners, the council suggests wrapping waste in newspaper, among other alternatives on its website.

Garden waste

Housewife Sarah Wymark, of Kingsbridge, said: "It's been foul. The weather has made the whole street smell like a tip.

"It's about time the council acted because we have had this problem for months."

South Hams said it was now recycling 34% of household waste, which is expected to rise to 40% by the end of the year when all residents will be included in the scheme.

The amount of food and garden waste being recycled has more than doubled, from 1,696 tonnes in 2004/05 to 3,541 tonnes last year.

The recycling scheme includes coloured plastic bags for collecting paper and cardboard and blue bags for plastics and tins.