THE Wombles helped launch a recycling scheme in Wear Valley, Teesdale and Derwentside at the weekend.

About 80,000 homes in the districts will be targeted by the initiative as part of a commitment to meeting international standards on recycling.

Households will be given recycling boxes for paper, cardboard, cans and glass and sacks for clothing, bed linen, blankets and shoes.

Residents will be expected to leave the bins and recycling boxes on the kerbside, although help will be given to elderly or disabled people who are unable to do this themselves.

Each box has a barcode which will be scanned when it is emptied, allowing the councils to monitor participation.

The system, which will begin at the end of this month, was launched by the furry litter-pickers in Bishop Auckland town centre on Saturday.

Councils have to meet minimum Government targets of 17 per cent by the end of this year. If this is not achieved they could face financial penalties, which would have an impact on council tax bills.

The partnership between the three councils also includes two contractors, Cory Environmental and Foreman Recycling, and Groundwork East Durham.