Set your alarms - bin collections in Hitchin and surrounding areas are set to start earlier.

The reason?

'Furnace Friday' and the expected mini-heatwave as temperatures are set to hit a scorching 34C at the end of July.

North Herts District Council are behind the move, warning residents about the changes in a tweet sent on Wednesday from their official Twitter account.

"Due to the hot weather we are expecting at the end of this week," the message read, "we will be starting bin collections slightly earlier each morning.

"Please can you put your bin out the night before your collection rather than in the morning to ensure it doesn't get missed. Thank you."

What do YOU think of the council's move to start collecting your rubbish earlier?

Is it a good move, or an annoyance? Will it bring unwelcome noise earlier than necessary and disrupt sleep?

Or do you feel the announcement should have been made in a more formal way, with many elderly residents not on social media?

Let us know. Tweet us @HitchinNubNews and have your say on our Hitchin Nub News Facebook page