Pub opening hours were also extended for the

Council leader Alan White was among the high profile losses for the Conservatives, losing his Lichfield Rural East seat to Reform UK.Newcastle-under-Lyme Reform UK chairman Ken Owen said he thought voters were disillusioned with the other major parties.

"[It was] a remarkable night, not only for Reform UK candidates, but I think the people of Staffordshire have sent a message to the current sort of administration," he said.He added that no decisions had yet been made about who might be appointed to key roles within the council."Reform UK have got a strong team of people behind the scenes, and I'm sure we'll be talking about that over the next day or two," he told the BBC.

Reform gained eight of the nine seats in Newcastle-under-Lyme in Thursday's elections.Simon Tagg, Newcastle Borough Council leader, was the sole survivor among the Conservative county councillors in the borough.

"Long-standing councillors are losing their seats, not only across this county but across the area," he said.

"I think it shows the dissatisfaction with the two parties - Labour and Conservatives."It is hoped that every household around the country will have the kerbside collections by March 2027.

The scheme will be extended to more than 25,000 homes in Wells, Draycott, Frome and Chilcompton.Eligible residents will be sent a pack of blue collection bags, alongside further information about what to collect.

They join about 3,500 households in Frome that have already recycled approximately 27 tonnes of soft plastic waste - equal to roughly 95,000 bags - since the scheme was introduced there in May 2023.Mickey Greene, Executive Director of Climate and Place at Somerset Council, said many residents who are already part of the scheme "really like" it so far.