WORCESTERSHIRE County Council missed Government targets for recycling household waste by just one per cent, Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett revealed yesterday.

Council chiefs recycled or composted 19 per cent of materials such as paper, compost, glass, plastic, tin, garden cuttings and vegetable matter in 2003/4.

But, despite increasing the amount of rubbish it recycled by four per cent on 2002/3, the council missed its target of 20 per cent.

Mrs Beckett threatened ministerial intervention where councils "continue to demonstrate no commitment to improvement".

All of Worcestershire's lower-tier authorities hit the targets, however. Worcester City Council recycled the target amount of 16 per cent after an eight per cent rise in the last year.

Worcester MP Michael Foster said the improvements were down to extra Government investment.

"Here's a clear demonstration of the city council getting £400,000 to improve recycling in the city and it delivering."

Malvern Hills District Council recycled 15 per cent, against a target of 10 per cen,t and Wychavon District Council 17 per cent, compared to a target of 14 per cent.

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff said: "We are running critically short of landfill sites in Worcestershire. Recycling isn't an option, it's essential.''

Wyre Forest District Council hit 13 per cent, beating its 10 per cent target.

Herefordshire Council recycled 20 per cent, beating its 14 per cent target.

County Councillor John Smith, chairman of the Joint Municipal Waste Forum, said he was pleased with the improvement.

"The figures for all authorities in Worcestershire, not just for the county council, are very encouraging.

''The main responsibility for recycling lies with the district councils and we wouldn't be able to do as well as we have without their hard work in encouraging residents to recycle.

''Their own individual figures are also excellent and Herefordshire too has done brilliantly."