A LONE dust cart has been sent out by Southampton council to clear some of the rubbish piling up across the city.

The vast majority of bin men in the city remain on strike as unions and the council hold talks to resolve a bitter industrial dispute over pay cuts to thousands of council workers.

One crew of three non-union members of staff has been sent out to clear piles of rubbish that have been identified as being a risk to public safety. The council said tower blocks and flats were a priority.

Council leader Royston Smith said:“Obviously, we cannot allow the public to be put at risk from this industrial action.

"Bags of waste have built up around flats across the city, posing a potential fire risk for our residents.

“Following an agreement with the unions at today's talks with ACAS, the council has sent out a crew to clear this build up.

“We remain optimistic that we can find a way forward with the unions to end this industrial action and return to a full waste collection service.

“Talks have started well and we will continue to make ourselves available to negotiate with the unions until we find a resolution.”

Unite regional organiser Ian Woodland said the agreement to allow the crew to clear rubbish posing a fire risk had been made weeks ago, adding the crew had already been out on several occasions prior to today's talks.

The council has issued 90-day dismissal notices to staff threatening them with the sack if they do not sign up to new contracts by July 11 cutting pay by between two and 5.5 per cent, depending on earnings.

The council says the move will protect 400 jobs over the next two years.

Up to 2,400 staff are taking industrial action, including strikes that have crippled services such as rubbish collection and street cleaning.

Unions have called for the notices to be withdrawn and for the council to find other ways of making the multi-million pound savings it needs to find.