Dorset Council is warning residents to expect long delays and queuing if they visit the tip this Easter, advising them to postpone their trip if possible.

Social distancing measures will remain in place at all the council's household recycling centres (HRCs), which reduce how many people can be allowed on site at any time. Coupled with the expected increase in visitor numbers over the Easter weekend, long waits to enter each site are expected.

Council officers are continuing to ask people to please store their waste safely at home until the public health and safety restrictions at HRCs are relaxed. If you cannot do that, then please consider delaying your HRC visit until after the Easter break.

HRCs move to summer opening hours on April 1 - 9am to 6pm - but employees are still unable to assist with moving waste, and reuse areas will remain closed.

Councillor Jill Haynes, portfolio holder for customer and community services at Dorset Council, said: "We're already seeing more people than usual at our HRCs this year and the Easter weekend is typically one of our busiest times.

"While we're pleased that people want to recycle their waste correctly and Covid-19 restrictions are starting to relax, the fact remains that we need to keep social distancing measures in place at our sites for a while longer to ensure that safety of visitors and staff.

"Therefore, we are continuing to politely request that people consider whether their 'trip to the tip' is necessary this Easter. If you can keep your waste at home safely, then it is not necessary to visit an HRC over the bank holiday weekend.

"If you absolutely must drop your waste off, please be warned there are likely to be long delays.

"We need to work together to reduce the scale of the problem as public health measures must remain in place.

"I want to thank all of those who have helped us by choosing to keep all their waste safely at home until safety measures are lifted. This way we can keep all the sites fully open for those who need to use them and not impose further restrictions. We appreciate your co-operation and understanding."