HAVE A MERRY GREEN CHRISTMAS WITH Blackburn with Darwen FREECYCLE Members of Blackburn with Darwen Freecycle are hoping for a green Christmas this year, by using their local group to exchange items that would make good gifts.

Toys, games and books make ideal presents, particularly if they're unused, in very good condition, or still in original packaging. We're simply asking members to add suitable for gift' to their item listing.

Linda Mason of Blackburn with Darwen Freecycle said: "It's good to know that unwanted ornaments, toys, gadgets or souvenirs could solve someone else's Christmas dilemma. Now is a good time to clear out those unused presents from last year, make yourself some space, and help the environment.

"Re-use saves the energy used in production and reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill - about 100m tonnes in the UK - so it makes economic and environmental sense."

You can also use Freecycle to try and find the perfect present by posting an item wanted' listing.

Freecycle was started in 2003 as a gifting movement and now has nearly 4 million members worldwide and almost 1 million group members in the UK.

Freecycle UK estimates that 2.19 million items will find new owners in the UK this year, saving 18,331 tonnes of waste Freecycle is open to anyone who wants to recycle items they no longer need, by giving - rather than throwing - them away.

Freecycle is made up of local groups, run by volunteers, which offers an online board where members can post offers of items' or wants for items'.

The rules are simple: items must be freely given, legal, and keep something out of a landfill site.

To join visit website www.uk.freecycle.org