Rubbish collections in south Oxfordshire have worsened since the district council sacked the company that provides refuse services.

Disgruntled residents are complaining that garbage has not been collected, rubbish is blowing about the streets and recycling collections are being missed.

South Oxfordshire District Council sacked SITA, the company employed to empty the district's dustbins since 1999, last week because the service was unreliable.

Earlier this year, the council rejected SITA's request for a £370,000 increase on its £1.7m-a-year contract. SITA said the increase was necessary to make its operation financially viable.

The council has awarded a £2.6m-a-year contract to S Grundon (Services) Ltd to collect rubbish and recycling, but Grundon does not take over until November 12.

Shirley Brown, the council's cabinet member with special responsibility for waste management, said: "We apologise profusely and would ask people to be patient until Grundon takes over fully."

Bill Merritt, a disabled pensioner, of Mickle Way, Forest Hill, near Wheatley, said rubbish was blowing all over his road after recycling collections were missed on Monday.

Mr Merritt, 75, said: "It's affected all my neighbours. There's rubbish blowing around on the B4027, but I'm not able to pick it up.

"I blame the council for agreeing such low-pay contracts. They know the job can't be done well for the money they've been paying."

James Risk, 20, of St Mary's Street, Wallingford, said: "My rubbish should have been collected last Thursday but it wasn't taken until Saturday. It has been bad for three weeks."

The council has blamed SITA for a five per cent drop in the amount of household waste being recycled this year.