"Shambolic” fortnightly waste collections desperately need to be reviewed, say Haringey politicians.

Liberal Democrat councillors have taken it upon themselves to tour streets in Wood Green and Alexandra Palace already affected by the gradual switch from weekly to fortnightly household waste collections.

They believe they have enough evidence to call for a suspension of the fortnightly service while a review is carried out by Haringey Council.

Although the 50 per cent reduction in household waste collection was largely waived through to encourage recycling, the Liberal Democrat group believe the changes are a health hazard, with rubbish in some properties already spilling onto the street.

Many of the photographs, which were taken on Monday, show bins already overflowing with rubbish despite a collection not taking place until today.

The waste is also likely to attract rats and foxes, as well as encourage further dumping, according to the Lib Dem politicians.

Councillor Jim Jenks said: “The council needs to suspend fortnightly collections now and review its policy immediately.

"Rubbish collection is a basic council service - at the moment the Labour council is not providing one."

The politician said the changes, which were introduced in the west of the borough at the beginning of March, have been a “shambles.”

Cllr Jenks believes the change to waste collection poses major problems for lined with houses of multiple occupation, such as flats, because front gardens often cannot fit the number of bins needed to satisfy the council’s new waste scheme.

However, the Labour council is championing the changes as a way to encourage more recycling.

Homes affected by the fortnightly collection have been given larger recycling wheelie bins to replace the small green box and recycling is still collected weekly.

Food and garden waste is also still collected weekly in the altered service, which is expected to save Haringey Council £900,000 each year.