The dates of bin collections over the festive season has been announced.

Householders whose collections would usually fall on December 25, 26 and January 1 will have their rubbish collected on a different day.

Stroud District Council (SDC) has asked people minimise the amount of waste created and to recycle as much as possible.

Glass, cans, plastic bottles and containers and cardboard packaging can all be recycled but polystyrene and wrapping paper cannot.

The key dates to remember are that if your collection would be on:

Tuesday December 25, it will be collected earlier on Monday December 24.

Wednesday December 26, it will be collected on Saturday December 29.

Tuesday January 1, it will be collected on Saturday January 5.

Environment Committee Chair, Councillor Simon Pickering said: “It is now the season of goodwill and a time for joy and giving but please give a thought for the recycling crews and the environment - plastic is not just for Christmas. It can stay in the environment for hundreds of years.

“Try to minimise the waste created and and recycle as much as you can, perhaps even give some presents that can be reused.”

If bad weather strikes and snow or ice holds up collections, residents should leave their waste and recycling out for two days including Saturdays but not Sundays.

If crews are unable to collect it within this period, it should be taken back in until the next scheduled collection.

Residents can download 2019 collection calendars with the amended Christmas 2018 and New Year 2019 dates via the My House function on the SDC website - stroud.gov.uk/my-house.