While all of Cumbria County Council's household waste and recycling centres are now open, high demand is seeing extensive queues.

Delays have been experienced at all 14 of the council's sites across the county, with long waiting times and traffic congestion increasing.

And now the council is urging everybody to only visit recycling and waste sites when absolutely necessary.

Councillor Celia Tibble, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “I’d like to thank everyone for their patience who has visited one of our sites to dispose of their additional waste since they re-opened.

"On the whole, all our sites are coping well with the demand, with the exception of Frizington, Clay Flatts Workington, Kendal and Carlisle whose access roads can struggle to cope with the increased volume of traffic.

“Keeping staff and the public safe is our absolute priority and the guidance in place will help to ensure this is maintained, and also make the roads around the HWRC sites less congested, and help to minimise the disruption for our local residents.”

A spokesman added: "Please be mindful that our staff are working hard to support you and the local community during these difficult times, and therefore we all need to be patient when making trips to HWRC sites, particularly at those sites which are close to residential areas and businesses."

All centres resumed operation, with Covid restrictions in place, on September 14, and the Waste Permit Scheme is set to be reinstated for all sites.

Booking systems for Boustead’s Grassing, Carlisle and Grange-over-Sands HWRC sites are to continue, and can be accessed here.

For more details, visit the Cumbria County Council website.