NORTH YORKSHIRE racehorses now have some of the most comfortable beds in the country - thanks to Hambleton residents.

Over the last six months more than 550 tonnes of waste paper has been collected throughout the district, much of it being recycled as high quality horse bedding.

More than 55 per cent of paper collected came through the kerbside recycling scheme being operated at Thirsk, Northallerton, Easingwold, South Kilvington, Thornton-le-Moor, Thornton-le-Beans, Sessay, Topcliffe, Dalton and Carlton Miniott.

Current leader in the recycled paper stakes is Thirsk with an impressive 57 tonnes collected closely followed by Northallerton with 54 tonnes.

However, Easingwold came second from bottom in the league with 45 tonnes, although the amount collected in the past few weeks has risen dramatically.

Councillors and environmental staff say the response of residents to the scheme has been overwhelming, with the only criticism coming from villages not yet included.

"It doesn't matter how much paper is left in the blue recycling bags, every little helps," said Councillor Arthur Barker, Hambleton District Council cabinet member for environmental health.

"The kerbside recycling scheme is proving really successful and shows us how much local people are willing to help bring down the amount of waste being sent to landfill."

The scheme is being operated by Yorwaste/Todd Waste Management Partnership on behalf of the council which has been given the challenge of recycling 14 per cent of all waste collected by early next year. Villages currently not part of the kerbside recycling scheme all have access to paper recycling banks.

Updated: 10:51 Thursday, November 21, 2002