DARLINGTON Borough Council has revised some of its collection dates over the Christmas period.

The council has also warned that services may be disrupted if it snows or the weather is icy.

Announcements about delayed collections because of bad weather will be made on Alpha FM.

Councillor Stephen Harker, cabinet member for consumer and environmental services, said: "We all produce a lot more rubbish at Christmas and New Year, so it is great time to start recycling.

"Plain Christmas cards can be put in your blue bag and real Christmas trees can also be recycled at points around the borough.

"Recycling collections will continue during the holidays and the household waste recycling centre will be open every day apart from Christmas Day."

Green boxes and blue bags will be collected on the same week as normal but may be on a different day.

There will be no collections on Christmas Day or Boxing Day with council workers taking away refuse two days later than usual - on Wednesday, December 27, and Thursday, December 28.

Residents who normally have their recycled items taken away on a Monday will also have collections on New Year's Day delayed until Tuesday, January 2.

Collections return to normal on Wednesday, January 3.

For more details about recycling services, or to find out if collections may be delayed because of wintry weather, residents are asked to call customer services on 01325-388777.