£25 shock bill for stolen wheelie bins

Residents in Dudley are being asked to foot the bill after a spate of thefts of garden waste wheelie bins.

New figures show 349 of the green plastic bins were wheeled away by thieves from outside people's homes in the Dudley borough in the space of a year.

Residents who fall victim are asked to pay £25 if they want the bin replaced.

However, the council says there is discretion to waive the charge if a householder can prove they have taken good care to prevent damage or theft of their bins.