More than £1.6m has been raised for green projects and recycling schemes in the county by the Hanson Environment Fund.

The figure is the highest amount raised in the country from a scheme which is generated by landfill tax credits built up by the firm.

The tax is levied on landfill operators who can direct up to 20 per cent to approved local and national environmental projects.

Hanson operates seven quarry sites in Oxfordshire, and the trust is managed by the Royal Society for Nature Conservation.

Recipients of funding include the Sustrans national cycle network. Hanson gave £574,927 for the construction of the Oxford to Didcot section of the route.

Hanson also gave £188,016 to the Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment for its support of the Wild Waste Show. The show forges links between the community and other organisations working towards a sustainable future. The redevelopment of Cassington Village Hall received £4,000 to enhance the interior, modernise the kitchen and toilets and ensure the facilities are fully accessible. Hanson fund chairman John Hopkins said: "The productive and continuous relationship between RSNC and Hanson has created a successful environment fund benefiting a large number of communities."

Nationally, the fund has raised more than £13m for 400 UK projects over the last four years.

The fund is welcoming applications from communities within a 10-mile radius of a Hanson operation.

For details, call RSNC on 0870 036 1000.