VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help run a community composting scheme.

Residents in Hartlepool are being asked to give up some of their spare time to help with the collection of garden waste and its subsequent composting.

Several thousand homes in the Brus, St Hilda, Dyke House, Jackson, Stranton, Rossmere and Owton wards - all areas of the town benefiting from the support of the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund - are eligible to take part.

Householders' garden waste is collected every fortnight and taken for composting to Southbrooke Farm, adjacent to the Council's Summerhill Country Park. The finished compost is to be made available to residents in the scheme

The farm is to be the venue for an open day on June 18, from 10am until noon where would-be volunteers will be able to find out more about the scheme.