COUNTY Durham residents are being reminded of changes to refuse and recycling collections over Christmas.

Bins will be emptied as normal up to and including Friday, December 22, but all collections during the week beginning Monday, December 25, will be a day later than normal. Normal collections will resume on Tuesday, January 2.

The last day for bulky waste and white goods collections will be December 22, with the service resuming on January 2. To book a collection online, visit durham.gov.uk/bulkywaste

A collection service for real Christmas trees will also take place again this year. Bookings can be made at durham.gov.uk or by calling 03000-260-000 between Monday, December 18, and Sunday, January 7. Real Christmas trees can also be taken to any of the council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC). To check opening times, visit www.durham.gov.uk/hwrc

Anyone visiting a HWRC in a van, pick-up, mini-bus or towing a trailer will need to apply for a permit in advance by calling 03000-260-000 or visiting durham.gov.uk/householdpermit

Those requiring a waste permit for use over the Christmas and New Year period must apply before noon on Friday, December 15.

To download a bin collection calendar, visit durham.gov.uk and enter the house number and postcode into the My Durham section.