A new initiative has been launched to encourage people to recycle correctly while also raising funds for local schools in the Watton and Carbrooke area.

Recycling Stars will see households awarded for every black recycling bin presented which contains only clean, dry and loose recyclable items.

They will receive stars which can be taken to local collection points and can then be converted to cash by the three schools participating in the project.

Watton Westfield Infant and Nursery School, Wayland Junior Academy and St Peter & St Paul Carbrooke Primary are taking part in the scheme which is being run by Breckland Council in partnership with Norfolk County Council.

Councillor Paul Claussen, Breckland Council executive member for place, said: 'Recycling Stars is all about working together with the local community to improve the quality and quantity of recycling we collect.

'We know that residents are really keen to do their bit to help safeguard the environment, but many are unknowingly making some common mistakes.

'A significant number of recycling bins we collect contain items that cannot be recycled; for example recyclable items put in plastic carrier bags, as these can't be opened for sorting, or unwashed food containers.

'This is a real problem for us as it contaminates the whole load of collected material which then cannot be recycled and has to be disposed of in a different way.'

The project will run from October 16 this year until March 16 2018.

The three schools will each receive £500 and the one with the most stars at the end of the scheme will be awarded an additional £500.

Mr Claussen added: 'We are delighted to be working in partnership with Norfolk County Council and spreading the word though schools.

'The children are very excited and supportive about our project, so we hope they will spread the word and be our best ambassadors.'

Residents can take their stars to the collection points at Watton Westfield Infant and Nursery; Wayland Junior Academy; St Peter & St Paul Carbrooke Primary; Watton Library and Watton Leisure Centre.

Leaflets explaining the scheme will be distributed to households in October.