AN initiative to encourage recycling and reduce waste going into landfill sites took place in Wear Valley at the weekend.

Environmental regeneration charity Groundwork West Durham teamed up with Wear Valley District Council and Blackwall Ltd to offer residents the chance to buy composting bins at a discount.

The composters were available on Saturday from the Crook Business Centre car park. Because the event was so successful last year, Groundwork also teamed up with Southern Electric to offer cheap energy-efficient products.

They included low-energy lightbulbs, available in packs of six for £9. The 20 watt bulbs are equivalent in light output to a standard 100 watt bulb, but use 80 per cent less electricity and last 12 years - 15 times longer than ordinary bulbs.