More people have been making use of council collection services in Great Yarmouth since the introduction of new DIY waste charges by the county council - a report has revealed.

However, the cost of the service is set for an increase of its own, as Great Yarmouth Borough Council looks to ensure it remains cost neutral.

The borough council currently runs a bulky waste collection service, which allows for people to pay for large items such as furniture and electrical goods to be taken away.

And a report to the council's environment committee has suggested that since the introduction of new charges for DIY waste at recycling centres, the service has found itself more in demand.

The report says: 'In May 2018, the service has seen a significant increase in usage, from 41 collections in 2017 to 137 collections in the same month this year.'

Carl Smith, chairman of the council's environment committee, however, said it was too soon to judge whether the increase in demand was connected to the DIY charges.

He said: 'It has been considered, but as this is only a recent change we do not have robust data to show whether there is any connection.'

Next week, the committee is recommended to approve a new payment structure for the service, which will see a collection of one to three items costing £22, and four to six items priced at £38.

The current price scheme is as follows: £13 for one item, £18.50 for two to three items, £31.5 for four items and £37 for five or six items.

The report states there is a risk the increase could lead to additional fly-tipping throughout the borough, although notes that when charges were first introduced in 2000, this was not the result.

Mr Smith said: 'The county council changed the pricing structure of the tips in April and the council has seen an increase in the take up of the bulky waste collection service and no increase in the number of fly-tipping complaints.'

The borough council's environment committee meets at 6.30pm on Wednesday, June 18.