POOLE residents face an inflation-busting 18 per cent rise in having their garden cuttings collected next year, paying £5.75 more.

The green bin kerbside garden waste service has been extended to include an additional three collections but green fingered residents will be charged £37.55 compared to £31.80 in 2015 - or £30.20 if they paid early for a discount.

However Borough of Poole is claiming the service has received an inflationary increase of 2.2 per cent compared to last year, having worked out the 2015 charge per collection of £1.67 applied that to 22 collections, instead of the 19 that took place, and added 2.2 per cent - although inflation is now 0.1 per cent.

Liberal Democrat, Cllr Marion Le Poidevin said her group had seen off an attempt to extend the service and hike the charge in 2014, calling for consultation which had not taken place.

"We don't know whether residents want an extended service when it will cost them considerably more," she said. "They are going ahead and extending the service without any proper consultation. People haven't got any option - they either have a garden bin or not."

Cllr John Rampton, cabinet portfolio holder for the environment and consumer protection said: "The garden waste scheme remains very popular among residents with an increase in subscriptions annually. We are pleased to have been able to offer an extended service for the coming year following customer requests to cover periods of very late leaf fall.

"Despite the small increase in the charge made for 2016, Poole residents can still expect a great service that has been improved further and continues to offer good value for money."

The service will run from February to December and the council says residents must register by December 10. Access to Leisure and Learning cardholders are entitled to a 50 per cent discount on the first bin ordered, paying £18.75.

The council expects that more than 6,500 tonnes of garden waste will be collected and recycled from 22,436 bins since the start of this year's service in March.

For more information and to apply visit poole.gov.uk/gardenwaste or contact 01202 261700.