RECYCLING and composting experts hope to have a captive audience at the Children’s Food Festival in Oxfordshire this weekend.

To mark National Recycle Week, Oxfordshire Waste Partnership – which represents the county’s six councils – is visiting the event to spread its message.

The partnership’s chairman, Oxford city and county councillor John Tanner, said five years ago the county recycled almost 91,000 tonnes of waste, which had risen to more than 129,000 tonnes last year.

However, he said more needed to be done. He said: “We all know about recycling our newspapers and food cans, but can sometimes forget about some of the newer materials that can have a new life.

“There are lots of ways to waste less, help the environment and even save money in the process.”

Recycling experts from the partnership will have a stall at the festival today, between 10am and 6pm, and tomorrow, between 10am and 5pm.

The food festival, which features chef Raymond Blanc and cookery writer Sophie Grigson, is being held at the Northmoor Trust’s Hill Farm, in Little Wittenham, near Didcot.

Entrance is £10 per car on the gate, £3 per adult arriving on foot or by bike, or £3 per adult on a shuttle bus from Didcot Parkway station. All activities at the festival are free.