PEOPLE in Worcestershire are being urged to carry on the enthusiasm for exchanging unwanted items that was generated by the last month's successful swap shops.

Worcester and Kidderminster both hosted events kicked off by Keith Chegwin - who starred in classic 1970s children's TV show Multi-coloured Swap Shop.

More than 2,100 people attended the sessions in January to trade unwanted items.

Many said they would go again if more events were held and now Worcestershire County Council's Waste Prevention team is offering encouragement and advice to people who want to stage their own swap shops.

Councillor Derek Prodger, cabinet member for environment, said: "As well as being fun community events, the swap shops drove home an important message about the need to reuse items in a bid to reduce the number of valuable resources sent to landfill.

Lots of people said they would like to attend future events, so we're appealing to everyone to hold their own swap shops."

Keith Chegwin encouraged passing shoppers to pop into the first event at Worcester Guildhall early last month. A total of 2,100 people came to the four swap shops in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

Young and old swapped an array of items such as a battleships game, a Bagpuss toy, china plates, wine glasses, old paperbacks, videos, bric-a-brac and furniture.

Volunteers from local charities St Richard's Hospice and the Duckworth Trust supported the Worcester event.

For more information about running a swap shop or other re-use initiatives, call 01905 768227 or log on to www.wastemissionimpossible.org.uk