RESIDENTS in the borough of Stockton are being urged to carry on composting.

Stockton Borough Council had received a number of queries over concerns about a newspaper article questioning the legality of composting on the grounds of health and safety.

Steve Nelson, the council's cabinet member for the environment, said: "Due to the recent foot-and-mouth epidemic tougher guidelines are rightly being introduced in all areas of rural practice to reduce the possibilities of any further problems.

"However, the article in question which mentioned the need for licences and penalties of up to £5,000 for illegal composting was directed primarily towards large commercial composting sites and not home composting.