A plea has been made to residents across Essex to show waste collection and tip workers respect after it was revealed they are facing increasing levels of abuse.

Essex County Council (ECC) told in a statement this afternoon (Thursday, 4 March) how waste collection workers and recycling centre site staff across the county are facing increasing abuse from drivers and members of the public.

"We go to work to provide an essential service and like everybody else we deserve to be safe, not threatened or insulted," one front line worker said.

A spokesperson for ECC said: "Front line staff are regularly reporting incidents of threats, abuse and impatient drivers ignoring traffic management arrangements.

"In some cases, this has resulted in dangerous driving to avoid queues – putting workers and other road users at risk. Some members of the public are also not following the social distancing guidance and are putting our workers at risk."

The county's Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change Action, Councillor Simon Walsh, said: "I am asking the public to follow published guidance and to treat our workers with respect.

"We are prepared to take action and ban any residents who do not adhere to the rules or abuse the staff."

For further information on recycling centres and site restrictions you can visit the Love Essex website via the link here.