Small saving for one person costs community £thousands

To avoid a small collection charge someone recently dumped a sofa in an underpass on Shire Way. Subsequently it was set on fire. Smoke blackening the walls and the roof of the underpass was damaged. The heat was so intense that the paving slabs cracked.

Cllr Mandy Sainsbury said "The whole appalling incident could have been avoided if the householder who dumped the furniture had organised for a collection from South Gloucestershire Council.

"It would have cost the householder just £17 but now the council will have to foot the bill to clean and repair the subway, which will run into thousands of pounds, such is the extent of the damage."