RESIDENTS concerned that they might not be able to recycle refuse from home over the summer have been reassured that collections will continue.

Last week Treesavers, a com-pany that has carried out kerbside recycling in Darlington for six years, said it was closing.

The company said it could no longer afford to operate after Darlington Borough Council stopped paying it recycling credits - the amount it received because the authority saved money by not having to dispose of the waste.

The council decided to stop paying the credits because it is setting up its own recycling scheme at the end of the year. The decision by Treesavers to close meant thousands of people would be without a kerbside scheme until the new service becomes operational in November. Some people threatened to petition the council.

But John Foreman Limited, of Spennymoor, has stepped in to fill the gap between the two services and will also be taking on some of the 11 staff who have lost their jobs with Treesavers, which will make a final collection on Friday.

The council's scheme will be introduced in three phases. Two weeks before the scheme begins, each home will receive a plastic recycling bin and an information pack.

Collections will take place fortnightly with three vehicles collecting from kerbsides in every area of the borough. Collections will take place on the same day as refuse collections.