THE benefits of home-composting were emphasised at a community garden event at the weekend.

Sedgefield Borough Council, Groundwork East Durham and the Trimdon Community Allotment Group jointly organised the advice and information session.

Free compost was on offer to people who attended the event, and home-composting equipment was for sale.

Compost expert Gill Schnabel, from the University of Durham, ran a series of workshops and demonstrations to explain the benefits of recycling.

Stephen Armstrong, of Groundwork, said: "She came along to deliver practical workshops on how to go about composting, the best things to use to maximise the space, and the processes in breaking the material down into something more useful.

"She has a PhD in compost and she delivers awareness- raising sessions on the subject."

The event was held on one of Groundwork's four community allotments, in Trimdon Village.

Mr Armstrong said: "It was a successful event. We had a good attendance and about 40 people took part in the workshops."