Even the season of good will has its limits - and they were tested at Gloucester's main recycling centre over the festive period.

Those who thought they were popping out for a quick trip down to the city's tip in Hempsted to drop off a little of their Christmas rubbish soon felt their spirits sink.

It appears many had the same idea and what with a reorganisation of the lay out at the centre and reduced winter openings some waited for almost an hour just to drop off their waste at the Hempsted Recycling Centre.

A three-week closure ending on December 22 had also caused some serious pent-up demand.

Closure was so £500,000 worth of new machinery could be installed - ironically to speed up the processing of waste.

"I waited for 55 minutes. We were queuing back to near the gates. It didn't help that the layout has been changed - and that the drop off for cardboard, which was all some people had, was the last drop-off point which didn't help," said one disgruntled visitor who thought he was in for a quick trip out.

"The staff there were fantastic though. Tensions were running high, but they managed to keep order and ensure everyone eventually managed to get home."

That the tip can get a tad congested - especially through the Christmas period - is nothing new.

Neither are announcements to tell us work is in hand to make it less so.

Back in January 2016 the county council were vocal in their efforts to reduce waiting times.

The tip was declared "the busiest of the county's five recycling centres with more than 500,000 visitors a year".

At the time it was handling "more than 16,000 tonnes of recycling and waste material".

On the ground it was widening the access road "to improve the flow of traffic and reduce the amount of time that customers spend queuing to use the centre".

An "upgrade to reduce queues" was also announced in June 2017 which included "extending the upper road area to improve travel around the site" with the aim of "reducing queuing time to make life easier".

Alternatives to Hempsted Recycling Centre were advertised during the three-week closure and included Pyke Quarry HRC near Stroud (Closed on Wednesdays), Oak Quarry HRC near Coleford (Closed on Tuesdays) and Wingmoor Farm HRC in Stoke Orchard (Closed on Wednesdays).

Out top tip would be this - unless you are overcome with a sudden desire to spend time away from family, or if you are in a rush, perhaps think twice before visiting the city tip during the festive period.

If you are planning a run, good luck. And here are the times to go - from 10am to 4pm every day, except Thursday when the centre if closed.

Wayne Lewis, head of joint waste management at Gloucestershire County Council said, "Every year after the Christmas and New Year period our household recycling centres get very busy. We have extra staff on site to help direct traffic and at Pyke Quarry, Horsley and Hempsted we are using our new mobile waste compactors to help keep things moving. Please expect delays over the next week or so, and if your visit isn't urgent we would recommend waiting for the post-Christmas rush to be over."