Radical changes to people's lifestyles are proposed in a bid to cut a town's greenhouse gas emission.

Middlesbrough belches out 800,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year - an amount that would take a forest 20 times the town's size to absorb.

District council officials say far-reaching plans are needed and measures ranging from overhauling everyday travel arrangements to recycling cooking oil and the way residents heat their homes, are up for discussion.

Councillor Barry Coppinger, executive council member for community safety and leisure, claimed: "Global warming is no longer a subject for the scientists and text books. It is happening now.

"The action plan provides a framework to secure a safe and sustainable environment in the future. The future is in our hands and we must have strong community involvement if we are to meet the targets.''

Half of the town's greenhouse gases are produced in the home or the car.

And Jim Gillon, the town's environmental protection officer, said: "We all need to share responsibility for reducing them.

"Our minimum target is a reduction of 12.5 per cent in greenhouse gases. But, because the town is growing and attracting businesses, in reality we need a reduction of more than 20 per cent.''

Councillors will meet next week to discuss ways to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport more. A scheme to recycle oil from caterers and restaurants in Middlesbrough, is also on the agenda.

Kerbside recycling collections are to be increased and residents helped to claim grants to pay for insulation and heating improvements.

Erimus Housing, which takes over Middlesbrough's council houses in November, is to be asked for a commitment to install 6,000 energy efficient heating systems and double glazing units, while businesses will be encouraged to switch to green fuel.

Other ideas include the development of wind farms, powering up on hydrogen fuel cells and introducing car sharing rotas.

The blueprint also looks at equipping the town to deal with extreme weather, updating emergency plans and looking at more ways to limit the impact of flooding.

Organisations have already signed up to support the aims and they include Middlesbrough Football Club, which plans to develop green energy sources, the University of Teesside, Cleveland Fire Brigade and the North-East Assembly.