RESIDENTS clearing up the festive aftermath are being encouraged to recycle their Christmas cards instead of throwing them in the bin.

Swindon Council has joined forces with Recycle Now and the Woodland Trust to launch a seasonal recycling campaign.

They are asking everyone in Swindon to post their Christmas cards in recycling bins at Waterside Park, Cheney Manor, and branches of WH Smith and Tesco.

The cards will then be recycled to raise money for the Woodland Trust, which plants trees in the area.

John Short, director of Swindon Services, said: "More than a billion cards were sent by people in the UK this Christmas. That's why we've teamed up with Recycle Now and the Woodland Trust."

Statistics show that 94.6 per cent of people will have sent cards over the Christmas season.

And 27 per cent of people will expect to receive up to 40 Christmas cards.

The recycling scheme ran in Swindon last year and organisers are hoping that even more Christmas cards will be recycled this time.

Coun Justin Tomlinson, cabinet member for Swindon Services, said the public's help was needed to ensure it was a success.

For more information about how to recycle Christmas cards, contact Andy Cook, recycling officer, at Swindon Council on 01793 464536.