An early Christmas present for Dartford residents is on its way in the form of new slimline wheelie bins.

Between now and the end of the year, the council will be collecting old wheelie bins on collection day and returning the next day with new bins funded by a £1.7 million government grant.

The council secured the grant to replace the bins, many of which are over a decade old and showing signs of wear and tear. The old bins will be recycled.

Council leader Jeremy Kite said: “The offer from central government was too good to refuse. It means we can replace bins that are costing us more and more to repair without passing costs on to council tax bills.

“Unlike some councils, we remain 100% committed to weekly waste collection and we are making no changes to our popular grey recycling bins, black glass boxes and brown garden waste bins.”

The new bins are smaller because of the increasing amount of waste being recycled by Dartford families, the council says.

Around 60% of people surveyed by the authority told them they regularly have spare space in their bin.

Residents will be receiving leaflets in the next week or two detailing the plans for the big bin swap.

A council spokesman added: “Delivering the new bins is going to be a big job, which will be carried out one neighbourhood at a time, and we ask residents to bear with us while we get round to everyone.”

Anyone with questions should visit www.dartford.gov.uk/do-it-online, email bigbinswap@dartford.gov.uk or call 01322 343290.