Garden-waste collections across north Norfolk remain suspended this week, despite fuel panic receding into the past.

North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) halted its brown-bin rounds on March 29, at the height of the national two-day fuel-buying crisis, because it said contractors Kier could not find 'consistent supplies' of fuel for their vehicles.

This week NNDC said the collections would not resume until the 'probable date' of April 13, 'depending on whether the fuel situation changes for the worse once again,' because the supply situation had still not fully resolved itself.

As a result, some 16,500 garden-bin customers will have to wait at least another week for their garden bins to be emptied. Customers will receive a proportionate discount from their bill next year at the rate of �1.54 for each lost collection.

The spokesman said there were still some garages that had no, or reduced amounts, of fuel available as suppliers had not been able to catch up with deliveries.

He added: 'In addition we feel it is better to have certainty and clarity for our customers. Reinstatement of the service followed by potential withdrawal again, should a resolution to the industrial dispute not be realised, would be more damaging than continuing the current temporary cessation.'

The council felt it important to ensure collections of 'priority waste types' which could otherwise create a public-health risk.'

If a fuel strike was called, NNDC was looking at options including fuel supplies, storage, and if it came to it, reduced service levels for lower-priority waste types.