PEOPLE in Todmorden are being urged to save their leftover food.

Environmental health chiefs are asking them to save their unwanted potato peelings, stale bread and unwanted scraps and then have the rubbish collected and taken to a composting unit at TEG Environmental, off Halifax Road.

The head of Calderdale's environmental health department, Peter Ramsdale, said: "The construction of a composting unit gives the council an opportunity to test food waste collection using a sustainable waste management system.

"All will be invited to take part, but may opt out if they wish."

Each household will be given a seven-litre caddy and a supply of liners, and when the liner is full it can be put into a 20-litre disposal caddy, which can be put outside to await collection every week.

Residents will be notified of the day when the caddies are to be collected, and Mr Ramsdale said it was estimated that waste food accounted for 15 per cent of a household's unwanted rubbish thrown out, which totalled 7,800 tonnes.

The trial period will last for 40 weeks, beginning after Easter.