RESIDENTS are being urged to help maintain rural footpaths by having their Christmas trees recycled.

In the past two years, people living in Gateshead have recycled almost 5,000 Christmas trees, which have been used for repairing public footpaths.

This year, they can take their unwanted trees to Gateshead Borough Council's recycling centres at the Central Nursery, Whickham Highway, from 9.30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday; Campground Waste and Recycling Centre, Wrekenton, daily from 8am to 8pm; and Cowen Road Waste and Recycling Centre, Blaydon, daily from 8am to 8pm. The closing date is next Monday.

Councillor Michael McNestry, cabinet member for the local environment, said: "This successful annual scheme is just a small part of Gateshead's ten-year Local Agenda 21 environmental strategy, which is concerned with ensuring a better quality of life for everyone."

Forest Enterprise and the Friends of Chopwell Woods are also recycling Christmas trees until Sunday