Two Isle of Wight companies have stepped in to help collect and dispose of bin bags full of flood damaged items, after the council told high street business owners it was not the authority's responsibility to take them away.

After reading the County Press's article in which shopkeepers hit out at the lack of support from the council, Carrie Almond, owner of wedding planning company Wed and Prosper, decided to take matters into her own hands — despite it being her birthday.

Isle of Wight County Press: Biffa workers in CowesBiffa workers in Cowes (Image: Biffa)

She said, off the back of the CP's stories, she tried the council this morning asking them to help, but had no luck.

But, being in the wedding industry, she said she does a lot of work with waste company Biffa Isle of Wight so she turned to them for support, instead.

Read more:

Carrie told the County Press: "They said they would come and do it so we WhatsApp'd businesses and told them to put their bin bags out."

Cowes High Street businesses were told to put their rubbish out from 11am this morning.

As previously reported, the council insisted it had "people on the ground all morning" yesterday.

In a statement to the County Press, the council said: "Following various discussions, local businesses affected by flooding are responsible for safe and legal collection of their waste/ damaged items caused by flooding.

"Businesses will have their own contracted private waste carriers who they will be able to contact to dispose of any items."

Isle of Wight County Press: Carrie with a Biffa lorry.Carrie with a Biffa lorry. (Image: Wed and Prosper)

Cllr Richard Quigley, councillor for Cowes North, thanked Carrie and Biffa and said he had been "having a fight with council to get this sorted".

Posting on Instagram, Biffa said: "Team work makes the dream work. Thank you Carrie for getting in contact with us.

"We headed down to Cowes high street to help people affected by the flood damage."

The Island's coast saw what the Environment Agency predicted to be some of the highest tides on record here on Monday (April 8) into Tuesday (April 9).

Houses on Brunswick Road, near the floating bridge, were also affected, as were parts of East Cowes.