Swindon Borough Council has announced a major change to how Christmas trees collections which means some people could miss out.

This year, the authority will only be collecting Christmas trees from garden waste subscribers.

A council spokesperson has explained that this change is “to allow the crews to focus on the recent changes to waste and recycling" after a new bin collection system has caused chaos over the last few weeks with many bins being missed.

Anyone who is not a garden waste subscriber will now have to dispose of their tree by taking it to the Household Waste Recycling Centre themselves.

Slots to do this must be booked in advance.

The recent change has been met with huge backlash from the community as many people feel they will be missing out and should be offered more.

“Surely the amount of council tax we pay can run to collection a tree once a year," said Swindon local Alison Etchells.

“Soon we will be taking our rubbish to the tip ourselves."

“Maybe this could have been said before people bought trees. Not everyone has a car,” pointed out Del Rachel on Swindon Borough Council’s online announcement post.

For those who are not subscribed to the council's green waste collection and are in need of help removing their tree, the charity Prospect Hospice is also offering a limited tree collection service.

The limited service will be on a first come first served basis, for a donation, and this will run on Saturday, January 6 and Sunday, January 7, 2024.