CONCERNED town centre traders in Skipton have demanded action after waste from their businesses was not collected last week.

Refuse was left at some businesses in the High Street, and traders feared uncollected waste could attract vermin and and look unattractive to shoppers.

But Craven District Council chiefs have reassured shop owners that there was no longer term problem.

Paul Florentine, the council's waste and recycling manager, said that collections were would soon be back to normal.

He said: "We had some staffing problems, which hampered our waste collection.

"Therefore, we missed out some premises on the rounds. We will clear any backlog this week and apologise for the inconvenience."