Residents could be forced to rise from bed and put out their bins at 5am under proposals to keep streets tidier.

They would only be able to leave waste on the public highway for collection during two hour-long slots - from 5pm to 6pm, and from 5am to 6am.

Collections of residential and commercial waste are then timed for between 6am and 8am, and 6pm and 8pm.

Those residents who fail to meet the restrictions imposed by Merton Council, in south London, will be fined.

The council says it hopes the move will "improve the cleanliness and overall street environment" by reducing the amount of time waste is left on the street for collection.

In a statement the council said: "Merton Council's drive to keep the borough's streets clean is taking another positive step with proposals to introduce a time-specific waste collection scheme in Wimbledon."

However with many working residents likely to arrive home from work after 6pm, homeowners will be forced to rise at 5am to put out their waste.

A trial run is expected to take place in a defined area of Wimbledon Village and Wimbledon town centre from April, following a consultation process.

Councillor Mark Betteridge, cabinet member for performance and implementation, said: "Time banding will help improve the cleanliness of our streets and make our town centres more pleasant and attractive for all.

"We want to make Wimbledon a destination town centre for people to visit.

"I would encourage residents and local businesses in the proposed time banded area to feed back their views on the scheme to Merton so we can ensure all views are considered."

An informal consultation on the proposals will take place over the coming weeks when officers will be speaking to businesses and residents about the plans.

A council spokesman said residents in affected areas would have a three-month trial before they would be subject to fines.

(Read by Brian Salter. Brian Salter is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)

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Source: Telegraph