Residents in Marlow woke up last week to find grass verges on their street had been carved up by a bin lorry mounting the pavements during its collection round.

Horrified Hawthorne Close residents complained to the council after finding their grassed areas torn up last Wednesday.

Kim Brown took to Facebook to say: "It’s just awful - wish I could do something to stop this. It doesn't sound as if complaints are helping and we've no other way of getting the bins emptied."

However, resident Paul Parry jumped to the bin crews’ defence. He said: "If they could take their time and make sure everything was done to perfection I'm 100 per cent positive they all would.

"Bearing in mind bin men were once paid top whack. These days the pay is not as good but they work harder and are under more pressure."

Wycombe District Council has apologised for the mess, insisting the damage will be fixed as soon as possible.

Spokesman Catherine Spalton said: "We would like to apologise to residents of Hawthorne Close for leaving the grass verge churned up after a collection vehicle drove over it.

"Our contractors, Serco, will be relaying the turf on the verge in the next week or so."