Residents in Richmond will be getting five free months of garden waste collections as compensation for cancelled collections due to crew shortages.

Collections for garden waste across Richmond borough were suspended from July 17 to August 16 due to shortages of bin collectors who were caught up in the 'pingdemic' and told to self isolate by an NHS app.

As of August 16, fully vaccinated people who come into contact with positive coronavirus cases no longer have to isolate. This has lead to fewer staff shortages.

At the time, Richmond Council promised it would give residents who missed their garden waste collection compensation when the service resumed.

The Council have now confirmed that subscription holders will be given free collections up to March 31, 2022.

All subscribers have been contacted directly with further details.

Cllr Julia Neden-Watts, chair of the environment, sustainability, culture and sports committee said: "The service is now back up and running.

"Since the government changed the self-isolation rules for fully vaccinated people, we have seen a positive impact on the availability of collection crew.

"I am grateful for the patience and understanding shown by residents while the service was suspended and I am pleased we have been able to come up with this solution."

The 5 months of free collections will run from 1 November 2021 to 31 March 2022.

Subscribers to the service will not have to renew their subscription this year and will instead be asked to do so in April 2022.

The Council are not taking any more garden waste subscriptions until 2022 and are carrying out a wider overhaul of the service, including changes to the contract years to cope with high spring/summer demand.