PAM and THOMAS are getting together to drive home a new recycling message in East Lancashire.

PAM is recycling jargon for papers and magazines, and THOMAS -- Those On The Margins Of Society -- is one of the charities supported by the Blackburn with Darwen Mayor's Fund, which is to get a £1 donation for every tonne of paper collected from residents in a new house-to-house recycling collection scheme.

The new borough-wide project kicks off at the end of the month.

More than 55,000 special white recycling bags and calendars are being delivered to householders in the run-up to the launch.

Residents will be asked to put all their newspapers, magazines, holiday brochures, catalogues and junk mail in the bags, which will be collected every fortnight.

Said recycling officer Stuart Hammond: "The UK has a poor recycling record. We hope residents will use the scheme and make the borough a greener place to live in.

"We want to get everyone into the habit of recycling, week in, week out -- by making it as easy as possible."

A special recycling helpline has been set up on 01254 585050.