PEOPLE in County Durham are being urged to help their local councils meet Government recycling targets.

The county's authorities have joined forces with the County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT) to launch a bus advertising campaign that encourages people to "reduce, re-use and recycle".

Kerbside recycling has been introduced and households are being offered free 60-day trials of compost bins.

Next month, an eight-day roadshow will tour the county.

David Miller, Durham County Council's head of environmental resources, said: "The Government has set ambitious waste recycling targets for local authorities and meeting them is a considerable challenge.

"Although much of what we throw away can be used again, just ten per cent of County Durham's household rubbish was recycled in the year 2002/2003.

"All councils in County Durham and Darlington have joined forces for a concerted effort to change people's long-term attitudes so we can drastically reduce the amount of waste we produce."

The roadshow will be at the following locations from 10am to 4pm: Millennium Place, Durham, Saturday August 2; Dalton Park, Murton, Sunday, August 3; Market Square, Darlington, Monday, August 4, and opposite Market Square, Tuesday August 5; Galgate car park, Barnard Castle, Wednesday, August 6; Safeway car park, Consett, Thursday, August 7; near the Market Place, Chester-le-Street, Friday, August 8; Aycliffe Shopping Centre, Newton Aycliffe, Saturday August 9.

For further details of the composting scheme call 0870 844 3021.