COMMUNITY groups from across Sedgefield are taking part in a borough-wide Christmas tree shredding and recycling scheme.

The trees are being collected at five allotment sites until Sunday, January 11, and will be chipped by staff from Sedgefield Borough Council's Sustainability Team.

The chippings will then be used in the community gardens maintained by the groups.

These include the Eden Residents' Association, in Spennymoor, which has recently signed up to the council's Earth Promise scheme and received a certificate signed by Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is also Sedgefield's MP.

Members are well on the way to transforming a derelict allotment site into a garden for the community.

The collection sites are: Broom allotments, at the rear of Beverley Street, Ferryhill; Eden Residents' Association, Timothy Terrace allotments, Spennymoor; Fishburn community allotment, at the rear of South View; Trimdon community allotment, at the rear of Hart View; and Waverley Terrace allotments, Shildon.

This is the second year that the project has been organised by Sedgefield Borough Council and Groundwork East Durham. Contact Ruth Clayton on (01388) 816166 for more details.