RESIDENTS can support children as they clean up the environment.

Changes to refuse collections will improve recycling rates and donate £1 for every tonne collected to the Save The Children Fund.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's refuse workforce begin a four-day week next Tuesday, with the area split into four collection zones.

The charity link is provided by the council's recycling contractor, Abitibi-Consolidated Recycling Europe, whose donations to Save The Children now total £500,000.

Since the link was established with the council in 2002, about £8,000 has been raised. It is hoped that the new recycling regime will give the fund a further boost.

The company's managing director Ron Humphreys said: "The dual motivation for doing something for the environment, while assisting the efforts of a charity that fights for children's rights, has obvious appeal to the public.

"This has been instrumental in improving recycling rates around the country."

Cabinet member for environmental improvement, Coun Bob Stanway, said: "This is an extremely important time for the council and its collection scheme.

"We want everyone to be part of what we are trying to achieve and, in my opinion, the fact that people's efforts can help such a marvellous charity is an added incentive."