Barrow Council is wading through a backlog of 650 pleas for new containers after some residents told The Mail they had gone more than a year without somewhere to put their rubbish.

Data obtained by The Mail showed in the last two years bins were being reported lost or stolen at a rate of more than once a day.

And householders have described being forced to choose between storing waste in their homes or leaving rubbish bags on the kerb to be ransacked by seagulls.

One resident, 59-year-old full-time carer Janet Huddleston, said she had to wait eight months for a new bin after hers was 'eaten' by a waste collection lorry.

Mrs Huddleston, who lives in Barrow's Vulcan Road, said: "It's been horrendous.

"I kept phoning and phoning the council and checking up and they told me there was a large waiting list.

"They say you can put three bags out but don't put them out until 7.30am.

"But the seagulls rip them open - they don't know what time it is.

"It's a no-win situation. You can't leave the bags in your house because they stink."

The mum and grandma, who lives with her disabled son, said she was left having to sweep up rubbish spread over the street by seagulls.

And expressing her frustration with the council, she said: "It's been ridiculous. They've let us down big time.

"They're quick enough to take your council tax."

'A real struggle'

Other residents have described how they have struggled to cope without a bin. 

On social media Rachel Grace said: "It’s been six months now and it’s a real struggle.

"I ring multiple times and they keep saying it will be delivered and it doesn’t.

"And you can’t put the bin bags out because seagulls just shred them to pieces."

James Lee said: "My housing officer has now had to ask twice for a grey bin for me and after nearly two months I'm still waiting.

"I can't just put the bags out because seagulls rip the bags open."

At least 837 bins have had to be replaced by the council after they were reported stolen since 2018, from when figures are available.

Figures showed a huge rise in bins being reported stolen between 2018/19 and 2019/20 where the number jumped from 16 to 184.

Cllr Ann Thomson

Councillor Ann Thomson, the leader of Barrow Council, said the council was tackling the backlog of bin requests in the borough.

"The council receives requests for replacement bins and recycling boxes and these have to be processed before they are added to our list," she said.

"Around 250 new bins have been delivered to homes since April 25 this year and, with new requests coming through regularly, we currently have around 650 live requests.

"The bins are designed to be robust and to have a good lifespan.

"There is a cost to replacing them so we would urge people to request a new one only if theirs has been lost or is damaged beyond repair in order to ensure that every possible penny of our council tax goes towards providing essential services."