Last year hundreds of Slough household struggled to come to terms with a switch to biweekly bin collections - made worse by heatwaves exasperating pest problems.

Now a year on, some residents are about to be given a third bin - aimed at separating food waste for weekly collections.

Slough Borough Council announced that as of July 1, five areas of the town will be involved in a food waste trial.

These areas include parts of Britwell, Chalvey, Langley, the Diamond Road Estate and Colnbrook.

Residents have been told to expect a postcard through their door advising on the process and what can be binned - ahead of receiving two caddys next month.

According to the council, normal refuge bags average about 40 per cent of food waste.

Slough Council is behind other local authorities, having rolled out biweekly bin collection years after neighbouring council Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

Many other local areas, including Buckinghamshire, have also had food waste bins in use since before 2018.

On asking residents whether they think food waste bins are a good idea, there was a mixed response.

Helen Spring said: "No, not needed. Who wastes food? I wouldn't have any use for a food bin."

While Jackie Magee said: "No thanks. Flies maggots - couldn't think of anything worse."

Laurie Gill has asked whether the council will be paying for the bin bags.

Linda Rosa Hillier added: "I have a food bin. It is emptied weekly and I never have maggots because the lid is closed and flies can’t get in.

"I put cores, peelings, crumbs, the odd thing left over on a plate.

"Slough - you should have food bins."

When Slough switched to biweekly bins on June 26, residents were very concerned about an excess of waste.

In the months after, issues were raised from maggots covering bins, to bins being stolen from households.

Strict rules on refusing to collect waste from bins when the lid was not shut also created a backlog of waste - causing some households to transport old bin bags to the tips.

A petition, which amassed thousands of signatures, went before the council in the hope of reversing the biweekly decision - but was refused by the council.

It is now hoped weekly food waste collections may help with any persisting problems.

Cllr Singh Manku added: “Since the normal bin collections went to alternate weeks, residents have been clamouring for weekly food waste collections; to not only cut down on the amount of waste that goes into their grey bins but also issues with smells, maggots and other pests particularly in hot weather.

“With this trial, we will be able to see just how a food waste collection could work across the whole borough.”