Instead of dreaming of a white Christmas, West Oxfordshire District Council is urging people to think green and recycle the extra waste created by the festive season.

A massive three million tonnes of extra waste will be generated in Britain over the Christmas period. In a bid to minimise waste and increase recycling, West Oxfordshire District Council is sending out a clear Christmas sack to every household in the district.

The bags can be used for one type of recyclable material - all paper, all plastic or all card. Residents can use their black recycling boxes for glass as normal.

The clear Christmas sacks will be collected with the normal recycling box collection.

A free draw to win one of five £50 prizes is also being organised to encourage households to use the bags.

David Harvey, council cabinet member for the environment, said: "If all that extra three million tonnes of waste goes to landfill, useful resources and energy will be lost forever.

"That is why we are sending out this special Christmas message to all residents to think before they reach for the waste bin this year, and offering this £50 incentive to really make people think about what they can recycle."

People can enter the draw via the council website www.westoxon.gov.uk or by calling 01993 861020.