A CITY councillor is calling for a bylaw to be introduced which would stop people from leaving their wheelie bins out on streets following collection day.

The call from Martin Repton come on the back of a spate of fires in Normanton where wheelie bins were pushed up against people's front doors and set alight.

In one case a mother and daughter had to be evacuated from their flat.

Mr Repton's proposal has been backed by Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service and previous arson victims.

The Labour councillor, who represents Darley ward, said the arsonists' job was being made easier because of wheelie bins being persistently left out on the street.

He said: "I think these fires in Normanton have really highlighted the problem that bins seem to be left out more now on the street after they've been emptied. People aren't taking them back into their gardens or storage areas and that means it makes it easier for people to set them alight."

He also said that the bins were cluttering the pavements, making it a hazard for disabled people and causing streets to look unsightly.

Mr Repton said: "From a practical point of view they clutter the pavement and make it difficult for mothers with pushchairs and disabled people to get through."

He said enforcing the by-law could involve a dedicated officer who would put yellow-warning tickets on bins left out for too long warning people they could be fined if it happens again.

Mr Repton said he expected his plan to be up for discussion at a full council meeting in October.

He said: "I would like the council to look into the possibility of such a bylaw and how much a fine should be and how many warnings people should get. If people do not have an area to store their bins or are unable to bring them in and out for any particular reason, then we need to look at providing alternatives for them."

Mr Repton said a £5 "nominal fine" would be reasonable for someone who had received a warning.

Kam Basi, a Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service manager, said he backed Mr Repton's idea but that it would be hard to enforce.

He said one issue was that many of the homes affected by the problem were rented.

Mr Basi said: "People might only be staying in house for three to six months so it can be difficult to fine them.

"But we'd be in favour of anything that helps the situation. It's not just a matter of the bins being a fire hazard, it's also an access and egress and environment issue."

One Derby resident who has been affected by a wheelie-bin fire spreading to her home is Cassandra Harris, who used to live in Twyford Street, Normanton.

Mrs Harris, 21, was in her flat in October 2009 when an arson attack saw flames spread from the block's wheelie-bin to the building's gas main.

She said: "I agree entirely with the councillor's idea. The bin was my next door neighbour's.

"I've moved house since and after what happened I certainly wouldn't leave my bin out."