PUTTING out rubbish ready for collection seems the simplest of tasks.

Yet in Lamb Close, Hatfield, there has repeatedly been trouble with disposal of waste, with the latest episode taking place over the bank holiday weekend.

Four black bags were left near a lamppost in the street for a week and one was ripped open, its contents spilling out onto the road.

Resident Susan Reynolds, who complained to Welwyn Hatfield Council about the mess, said: “It’s absolutely disgusting. It’s not the first time it’s happened either.

“We seem to have a problem every four to six weeks with rubbish being left and last year there was a chicken carcass strewn across the road.”

Another homeowner in the close, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “It’s happened a lot.

“The council did send everybody a notice because people were putting rubbish out prior to the collection day so they seem to be doing all they can.

“There’s only so much we can do and I can’t keep picking it up.

“It’s not fair to the people who live close to the lamppost as bags get torn open by cats and the rubbish attracts vermin.

“It’s become a dumping post.”

The council announced a crackdown in April 2009 on those who left their bin bags out ahead of the allotted collection date, and have the power to hand out on the spot fines of �100 to perpetrators.

A council spokeswoman said: “The council received a complaint from a resident of Lamb Close, Hatfield, on Tuesday stating that a number of rubbish bags had been put out for collection on Saturday (May 29).

“Refuse collections for this area took place on the Thursday previous, as normal.

“Residents of Lamb Close have already received a section 46 notice, detailing when they should be presenting their refuse for collection.

“We are monitoring the area to ascertain who the perpetrator is, and if necessary a fixed penalty notice (FPN) will be issued.

“This has proven successful in areas around the borough in reducing incorrect presentation of rubbish and fly-tipping.”