HOUSEHOLD bin collections in Southampton have fallen victim to the big freeze today.

Civic chiefs have suspended collections in the west of the city due to the snow and freezing temperatures brought on from the so-called "Beast from the East".

Council bin chiefs say overnight snowfall in the area means it is no longer safe for bin lorries to access smaller residential roads.

City council cabinet member for environment and transport, Jacqui Rayment, said: “The weather has had an impact on waste collection because it is not safe to get the bigger vehicles onto small streets which haven’t been salted.

“So we’ve taken the decision to stop waste collection today.

“But just because staff are not collecting bins, those who have managed to get in will be out street cleaning and gritting to make sure the more well-used areas of the city are accessible.”

Councillor Rayment said that because Southampton City Council collect in one section of the city each day, the suspension of service yesterday will impact collections in the western part of the city.

However, with more snow and freezing temperatures expected today, she added that the service could be disrupted once more.

Councillor Rayment said: "We will make the decision in the mornings, depending on the conditions.

"Staff will be working to catch-up with missed rounds."

She added that the council was considering weekend collections in necessary.

Elsewhere in Hampshire, bin collections were disrupted in Test Valley, which saw heavy snow in the northern areas of the borough.

A spokesperson for Test Valley Borough Council said: "We'd like to advise residents that our waste collection operatives are continuing their rounds as much as they possibly can.

"There will inevitably be some areas that our drivers cannot access though, but our advice to residents is to leave their bin out as normal and if we are unable to collect it today then we will try again over the next couple of days."

Meanwhile, Eastleigh Borough Council says its bin collection services have not been impacted by the cold conditions.

A spokesperson for the council said it was "business as usual" for the authority.