People whose bins will be left in the summer heat for four weeks due to strike action are "frustrated" by the disruption.

More than 17,000 homes across the borough did not have their bins collected last Thursday due to a strike by public sector workers at Harrow Borough Council.

The council’s Labour administration has been attacked by the Conservative opposition for not having a replacement services and leaving bins to “fester” outside homes.

Irangi Fernando, who lives off Headstone Lane said: “It’s very frustrating and I’ve trying to call the council to get it picked up, but we just have to wait.

“My bins are overflowing and in the heat the smell is awful. I can’t open my windows because of the flies.

“The council knew it was coming. I think there should have been a replacement collection the next day.

Joseph Edmond, who also lives in Headstone Lane, said: “In this heat and weather the flies and the smell has been very bad.

“There should have been something done after the strike to sort the problem out.

“I don’t think it is fair really because we pay our council tax for a service but the bins have just been left.”

Yesterday leader of the council David Perry said acknowledged the industrial action had affected services and in the future he would work with unions to avoid disruption in any further strikes.