HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged to recycle as much as possible of the extra tonnes of rubbish that will be created over the festive period.

It is estimated that in Britain three million tonnes of rubbish will be created - which is the equivalent of 400,000 double-decker buses parked bumper to bumper stretching from Kidderminster to Lapland and back again.

Wyre Forest District Council's waste minimisation officer, Rebecca Robinson, said about half of this waste could be recycled.

She explained: "One food chain estimates it will sell 500 tonnes of sprouts over Christmas - all the peelings from these can be composted.

"In the UK, 5.5 million jars of mincemeat, 12 million jars of pickles and 6.5 million jars of cranberry sauce will be consumed, all of which can be recycled in the roadside boxes and bottle banks throughout the district."

Greetings cards can be taken to WH Smith or Tesco for recycling or put into the kerbside boxes and Christmas trees can be taken for recycling at one of the civic amenity sites.

There will be no refuse or recycling collections on Monday, December 27 or Tuesday, December 28. On Wednesday, December 29 and Thursday, December 30 there will be refuse collections, but no recycling collections, and on Friday, December 31 there will be normal refuse and recycling collections. Boxes and bins must be left at the kerbside by 7am, as collections will start early.

To help with the extra festive refuse, up to two extra bags of side waste will be collected from each household between Wednesday, December 29 and Friday, January 7.

The fire service is urging people to bear in mind the extra fire hazards caused by cards, decorations, presents and discarded paper and the police are warning people not to let a Santa "Claws" get their hands on gifts.

Crime prevention officer, PC Taryn Green, of West Mercia Constabulary, said: "Discarded packaging - especially for valuable and desirable items - can be a real invitation to thieves.

"Think, before you discard this kind of packaging, about the message that it might send and the alternatives that may be available to dispose of it, such as taking it to your local recycling centre."