A public space protection order (PSPO) was introduced this week for three roads in Portishead.

It comes after parked cars obstructed refuse crews 47 times in the area last year, forcing them to return, sometimes multiple times, to finish collecting waste.

The PSPO will be enforced on collection days from 9-11am. During that time, parked vehicles that block refuse crews will be reported and drivers warned by the council, and people reported three times will face a fine.

North Somerset Council ward member for Portishead East, Caritas Charles, said: ‘We need to ensure that our collection crews can safely and easily gain access to these streets to collect recycling and waste, something that many residents have written to me with concerns about.

‘We hope this trial will be a success and balance the need for access with people’s parking requirements.’