RESIDENTS in southern Oxfordshire are the best recyclers in England, according to the latest Government figures.

The Vale of White Horse is top of the table with a recycling rate of 68.7 per cent, closely followed in second place by South Oxfordshire with a rate of 67.9 per cent. Both districts are now ahead of last year’s lead authority, Rochford in Essex, which recycles 67.4 per cent of its rubbish.

Reg Waite, cabinet member for waste at the Vale, said: “Our service is designed to make it as easy as possible, but without the hard work of everybody at home, we couldn’t have achieved this remarkable accolade.” West Oxfordshire District Council came eighth with 61.2 per cent, Cherwell District Council came 21st with 57.3 per cent, and Oxford City Council was 146th with 44.4 per cent, according to the figures from Defra.