Garden waste collection is being suspended for six weeks - so that staff can be redeployed to support rubbish and recycling collections.

Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) said it was a reluctant decision but one that had been made because of a national shortage of drivers.

Collections are being suspended from Monday (August 2). All subscribers are being emailed or written to and will automatically have their subscriptions extended by eight weeks – the extra two weeks in recognition of the disruption at a busy time of year.

There is no need for subscribers to do anything – and they should not contact the district council – but more information can be found at somersetwaste.gov.uk/gardenwaste-suspension.

An online form on that page is the quickest and easiest way to make contact, the council said. If subscribers are unable to use the online form they can call 01823 589900 (available 9am-5pm Monday to Friday).

Suspension of garden waste does not mean rubbish and recycling collections will return to normal, but it should help maintain them and minimise any extra disruption.

The temporary suspension also includes the garden waste sack collections and bookings.

Somerset Waste board chairman Sarah Dyke said: “This is not a decision that SWP has taken lightly and I know this will frustrate a lot of people.

“We, like many authorities, are in a really difficult and unprecedented situation with the national driver shortage and continued impact of Covid, in terms of more waste to collect and, more recently, self-isolations.

“The board is following the situation closely and will be making sure that SWP and its contractors are doing everything they can as soon as they can to get services back to where they should be.

“In the meantime, please bear with the crews who have been working flat out throughout the pandemic collecting the extra waste we have all been producing.”