Wheelie bins have been delivered to the homes of pensioners who have three flights of steps to their doors.

From today householders such as Betty and Tony Elllis, both in their 60s, will have to heave the bins up 15 stone steps if they want them emptied.

Now one younger resident, Peter Hickes, is appealing to Bradford council to rethink its policy for fear his elderly neighbours in Southfield Avenue, Riddlesden, may injure themselves moving the bins.

Peter says: "Where I live I only have two steps to navigate to get the wheelie bin to the end of the road. But all my neighbours have about 12 or 14 steps to encounter," says Mr Hickes.

"It's the same with Unity Street. It's cobbled and it's the steepest road in Keighley, and getting anything out of there is a nightmare.

"Wheelie bins are a good idea in terms of hygiene, but when people have steps to navigate I think it needs a bit more forethought," he says

Peter adds: "Some of the retired people who live near me may not complain that they are having to get the wheelie bin up 14 steps. I feel obliged to go round every morning and move the bins for them."

Betty and Tony Ellis, who are neighbours of Mr Hickes, have three flights of five steps and are similarly concerned about the change over.

Betty says: "We're not getting any younger and my husband has got something wrong with his leg and he can't get around. When the bin gets full there's no way I can pull it up three flights of steps.

Betty adds that so many of the properties on Southfield Avenue have steps running down to the houses that wheelie bins are inappropriate.

A Bradford council cleansing spokesman says: "Leaflets explaining the new system and details of the helpline number have been distributed in the Riddlesden area in preparation for the introduction of the wheeled bins.

"If any resident has specific reasons why they feel a wheeled bin is not suitable for them they are urged to contact us so we can carry out an assessment and look at alternatives if this is appropriate.

"These assessments are carried out on an individual basis because circumstances vary from household to household, so we would ask anyone in Southfield Avenue or anywhere else in the area who feels they may have a problem to get in touch with us through the helpline." The council's helpline number is 01274 752525.