RESIDENTS are being urged to avoid using Warrington's tips after large queues were reported.

With many people working from home and unable to go out, more gardening and spring cleaning is taking place.

The council is reporting bigger queues than normal at its recycling centres in Sankey Bridges, Woolston and Stockton Heath.

Council bosses want to keep the sites open to help the refuse service, but says if numbers keep rising, they will have to shut.

Residents reported cars queueing back onto Manchester Road from Woolston tip on Thursday.

Similar scenes were noticed in Stockton Heath with cars snaking onto Sandy Lane.

In a joint statement Warrington Borough Council chief executive Steven Broomhead and leader Russ Bowden asked people to stay away.

They added: "We want to keep the centres open as long as possible but that will not be possible if we keep getting large queues of people.

"We understand people are perhaps clearing out houses or gardens, but we are asking them to avoid using the centres until the coronavirus outbreak is over so we can keep the sites open for essential use."