paper collections from 24,000 households are being reviewed as a council bids to boost its recycling scheme.

Wear Valley District Council needs to dramatically increase the amount of rubbish it recycles in order to meet Government targets during the next few years.

But a newspaper pick-up service operated for the council by a private company ran into problems at the end of last year when it tried to double the number of collections from fortnightly to weekly.

Now the service is going back to a two-week collection basis, while council bosses take another look at their strategy.

Ian Thompson, head of service contracts, said: "We have a long way to go to meet our targets of recycling ten per cent of our waste by 2003, and 18 per cent by 2005.

"In order to move forward in the short-term, until the full review of waste management is undertaken, it has been agreed that the 24,000 households will be split and a fortnightly collection introduced."

On Thursdays of the first week, collections will take place in Coundon Gate, Coundon, Bishop Auckland, Etherley Lane, Etherley Dene, Etherley Grange, Etherley Moor and Leeholme.

Friday pick-ups are in Coronation, South Church, Tindale Crescent, St Helen Auckland, West Auckland, Henknowle, Auckland Park, Close House, Coundon Grange and Eldon Lane.

Week two visits on Thursdays are to Newfield, Willington, Oakenshaw, Sunnybrow, Hunwick, Helmington Row and Binchester, and on Fridays to Howden-le-Wear, Crook, Billy Row, Sunniside, Stanley Crook, Roddymoor and Thornley.

In addition, there are collection sites for different types of waste at North Bondgate car park, Bishop Auckland; New Road, Crook; Willington High Street, Frosterley, the Manor House, Henknowle; Darlington Road, West Auckland; Morrisons car park, Bishop Auckland; the library trailer site, Coundon; and behind the North Point pub,Tow Law.