GARDEN waste was given away to shoppers as part of a bid to spread the word about home composting.

A Big Heap Roadshow was held at the B&Q store at Durham Retail Park, Gilesgate Moor, Durham, at the weekend.

Durham County Council organised the roadshow to persuade shoppers of the benefits of composting. They were offered bags of compost, made from garden waste collected from kerbside recycling and waste recycling centres.

In the first roadshow, staged recently at Spennymoor, more than two tonnes of compost found new homes when air cadets from 324 Durham Squadron gave away 300 bags to shoppers.

A similar hand-out on Saturday proved as successful, as volunteers bagged and delivered up to three bags per person to shoppers' cars at the retail park.

It is part of County Durham Waste Partnership's bid to introduce people to compost.

Councillor Brian Myers, county council cabinet member for waste management, said: "Compost is probably not the first thing on people's minds as they tuck into their tea, but waste such as potato peelings and carrot tops can easily be recycled to help make gardens flourish.

"Such waste can be given a new lease of life by putting it into a compost bin to allow nature to work its magic and transform it into no-cost, top of the range fertiliser.

"Around 30 per cent of household waste is organic and can be composted, including paper and cardboard, dead flowers, leaves, grass cuttings, raw fruit and vegetables."

Compost bins are available at reduced prices, on-line via www.recyclenow.com/compost, or ring 0845-077 0757.