Tips across the county look set to remain open during the second lockdown - including Ashby's recycling centre at Lount.

Household waste and recycling sites across Leicestershire were forced to close when the original lockdown started in March, but guidance for the second national lockdown appears to suggest tips will be able to operate over the next month.

Councillor Trevor Pendleton, cabinet member for waste disposal at Leicestershire County Council said: "Although national lockdown measures are still subject to a vote by MPs, the Government guidance we have seen makes it clear that our waste sites should remain open where possible to safely do so.

"However, we want to encourage people to only visit our sites if essential, and only if they have an appointment as our booking system remains in place."

When county council run sites reopened back in May, an online booking system was introduced to limit the number of visitors on site at any one time.

Social distancing measures are in place and certain types of waste can't currently be accepted.

Kerbside rubbish collections have continued uninterrupted throughout the pandemic.

Yesterday, the council's leader, Councillor Nick Rushton, said that the authority is reviewing its service offer ahead of the second lockdown.

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He said: "We're now working through what the national announcement means. We want to assess the full impact on services which are vital to residents.

"I know this is a worrying time for people, and supporting our residents through these continuing times of difficulty remains our absolute priority.

"I'm confident we will get through this, but it is down to all of us to follow the rules and drive down infection rates across the county."

People living in Leicestershire can book a slot to visit any of the council's 14 recycling and household waste sites.

Information about the types of waste accepted at each site, as well as links to the booking system, are available at www.leicestershire.gov.uk/waste

Earlier this year Leicestershire County Council, which has 14 sites, binned off plans to shorten opening hours at its household waste and recycling centres.