MORE Christmas tree recycling collection points are being set up in the Hambleton district than ever before.

Forty-four collection points are being created and there will also be recycling bins for cards in all branches of WH Smiths and Tesco from early in the new year.

Residents can deliver trees to the recycling stations in towns and villages across the district during the first week of the new year.

Each point will be visited by a mobile shredding unit.

The 44 sites are: Aldwark; Alne; Appleton Wiske; Bedale; Borrowby; Carlton Husthwaite; Carlton Miniott; Coxwold; Crakehall; Danby Wiske; East Cowton; Easingwold; Faceby; Farlington; Great Ayton; Great Langton; Hackforth; Ingleby Arncliffe; Kirkby-in-Cleveland; Kirklington; Leeming Bar; Nether Silton; Newby; Newton-on-Ouse; Northallerton; Potto; Raskelf; Romanby; Sandhutton; Sessay; Snape; Sowerby; Stillington; Stokesley; Sutton-on-the-Forest; Swainby; Thirsk; Tholthorpe; Tollerton; Topcliffe; West Rounton; and West Tanfield.

The compounds will be set up between Christmas and the new year and will take trees only. They will be open until January 17.

There will be no blue bag or refuse collections between Christmas and the new year.