A recycling centre was met with huge queues this morning (June 16) after its council removed the system of staggering visitors based on post codes.

Harrow Council opted to lift several restrictions on who could travel to its Civic Amenity site, in Forward Drive, from yesterday (June 15).

And a rush of residents looking to get rid of their bulky household waste meant drivers were faced with waiting times of around two hours.

CCTV footage from the site – intended to show potential visitors what the current situation is – showed cars backed up along the road leading up to the tip.

Harrow Council advised people to only travel to the recycling centre if their journey is essential and suggested those with just a few items should consider going next week.

It added that some temporary measures are still in place - ust one visit is allowed per day, the site is only open to cars, and the number of bays are limited to maintain social distancing.

The tip is only open to Harrow residents, who must bring a valid ID and proof of address to access the site.

For the past few weeks, the council operated a staggered system based on post codes, with residents only allowed to visit on designated days.

But with the national easing of lockdown restrictions from yesterday – including the reopening of non-essential shops – several local authorities have reassessed their approach to services.

However, many living close to the recycling centre said the traffic build-up means they struggle to leave the house or are forced to take long diversions.

It has been suggested that the council reverts to the post code system which, after an initial rush, seemed to be effective.

At present, there is no indication from the council that this would be the case, though it has previously noted that, during the Covid-19 pandemic, things are subject to change at short notice.

It added that it is exploring the concept of a booking system to make things easier for residents.