FOUR Hambleton residents have realised that recycling can be a very productive pastime.

They have each won prizes in a free draw supported by the district council to promote the Rethink Rubbish campaign.

More than 1,000 recyclers across the county entered the draw in the hope of winning one of 24 prizes sponsored by Yorventure and Yorwaste.

Three of the Hambleton winners were automatically entered into the prize draw when they took their Christmas trees to be recycled at their local household waste centre.

Veronica Piekosz, from Great Smeaton, won a fleece jacket made from recycled plastic bottles, Margaret Simpson, from Carthorpe, received a solar powered radio and Verna Sellars, from Sowerby, won a rechargeable torch.

Carolyn Addison from Thirsk won a wind-up radio as a result of completing a questionnaire on the council's waste service