HOUSEHOLDERS are being asked not to dump their empties in Mayor’s Avenue car park, Dartmouth, if the bottle banks are full.

Instead they should report the situation to South Hams Council who says it will make sure the bottle bank is emptied as soon as possible.

The advice comes comes after several boxes and bags of bottles were left strewn around the recycling containers at the weekend following a busy half term.

A spokesman for South Hams District Council said: ‘The bottle banks in Mayor’s Avenue car park are regularly emptied and we are sorry if the full bank has caused any inconvenience to residents and visitors.

‘Following half term, where we have seen an increase in use, we are working hard to deal with any backlog, ensuring that the banks are emptied and the area around the recycling banks is cleaned.

‘If residents should find that a bank is full please report it to us and do not leave boxes of bottles, we will make sure that it is emptied as soon as possible.’