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Green-minded residents have been urged to recycle over the festive period to help their gardens grow next summer.

Environment chiefs in Hampshire said Christmas trees could be taken to specialist centres and turned into compost.

They are also appealing to households to use kerbside recycling bins to dispose of unwanted cards, envelopes and present boxes.

But gift wrap cannot be recycled as it is layered with foil and plastic.

Hampshire council estimated that about 250,000 Christmas trees were decorated across the county this year.

A council spokeswoman said: "All the Christmas trees collected are turned into Pro-Grow, an organic soil conditioner which can be purchased from all recycling centres, so your old tree could end up helping your garden grow next summer."

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