COUNCIL bosses have launched a recycling drive in the Dales.

Free green boxes will be provided to residents of Wensleydale and Coverdale in which to collect glass and cans.

Residents are asked to take the filled boxes to recycling centres, rather than throw the rubbish away with their usual household waste.

A letter and information leaflet about the scheme is being sent to about 3,500 households by Richmondshire District Council.

Recycling officer Andy Turner said: "We are launching the project following the success of the recycling project in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale last year."

Green boxes can be collected from the following locations: Redmire Village Hall, on Wednesday, between 10am and 12.30pm; Preston-under-Scar Village Hall, on Wednesday, between 1pm and 7pm; Dales Countryside Museum, in Hawes, on Thursday, between 2pm and 7pm; Middleham Town Hall, on Friday, between 9am and 12pm; The Coverdale Memorial Hall, Carlton, on Monday, May 22, between 2pm and 7pm; Bainbridge Village Hall on Tuesday, May 23, between 2pm and 6pm; West Burton Village Hall, on Wednesday, May 24, between 12pm and 5pm, and Aysgarth Village Institute on Thursday, May 25, between 2pm and 7pm.

Two recycling centres have been set up at the Cover Bridge Inn, near East Witton, and the George and Dragon pub, at Aysgarth.

Improvements have been made to the centre at the Three Horse Shoes pub, in Wensley.

Residents can also take the boxes to centres at: Gayle Lane Car Park, Hawes; Hawes Youth Hostel; the tennis courts at Askrigg; the post office car park in Redmire; the public car park in Leyburn; Newton-le-Willows Village Hall and Hunton village centre.