GMB union members are observing a work-to-rule policy with no overtime as a protest against refuse collection contractor Cleanaway.

A GMB spokesperson said the pressure on members was "tremendous" with many workers "forced" to work 12-hour days.

Cleanaway said it hoped union members would accept their offer when they were balloted on Monday.

'Constant changes'

The dispute started a week ago with a one-day strike in Trowbridge.

Workers are protesting over excess overtime, continued reliance on temporary labour and constant changes to collection routes without consultation.

Kevin Brandstatter from GMB said: "Since Cleanaway took over the contract, the number of permanent staff and vehicles used to collect domestic waste has fallen but the number of homes which GMB members collect from has risen."

A spokesperson for Cleanaway said it hoped the industrial action would stop when union members voted on Cleanaway's offer of increasing the number of permanent staff and adding a further vehicle to assist with the green waste collections.