RESPONSE to introducing a waste recycling scheme in Teesdale has been so overwhelming that extra resources have had to be drafted in to deal with a backlog.

The recycling project, which was implemented in parts of the dale at the end of January alongside a wheelie bin service, is due to be extended to cover the whole dale by the end of March.

In the meantime, Teesdale District Council has been inundated with calls from the public asking for explanations of why their boxes have not been emptied.

Peter Slack, the authority's director of community services, said: "It is true we have had a great many calls about the scheme. But I would call them requests for explanations rather than complaints.

"Once we have put them in the picture, residents have been only too happy to know that we are doing are level best to sort things out."

Mr Slack said the top and bottom of it was that they had asked residents to use recycling boxes, and they had responded in such an overwhelming way that the council had nothing but praise for them. The authority thought the scheme would be slower to take off, while people got used to it, and had been overwhelmed by the encouraging response.

"For the next round, on Monday, we have called on extra resources," said Mr Slack. "There will be an extra vehicle and crew to cope with the demand. We can't thank people enough for helping towards recycling targets and are doing our best to iron out the teething problems associated when any new kind of system is introduced."

He gave an assurance that those hoping to receive a £10 reward in March 2004 for putting out their recycling boxes regularly would not lose out.

The system, which enables the reading of bar codes on the boxes to stock up credits towards the £10, will not begin until the new recycling scheme is up and running throughout the dale.

The bonus will be paid to those who put out their boxes at least 21 out of the possible 26 times during the year.