Plastic bottles are to be collected from the kerbside for the first time across north Shropshire starting from next month, it was officially revealed by council bosses today.

Crews working for Shropshire Council waste management contractor Veolia will collect the plastic bottles for recycling from May 3.

It follows a successful trial of the long-awaited service in Whittington, which has since been rolled out across the rest of the former Oswestry borough.

The service is now to be extended across the former North Shropshire District Council area including Market Drayton, Wem, Ellesmere and Whitchurch.

The details emerged at a meeting of Ellesmere Town Council last night.

In a letter to members, Shropshire Council officials say householders affected by the changes will receive leaflets and calendars about the new service this month.

The unitary council hopes the kerbside collection of plastic bottles will help it to meet tough recycling targets set by central government.

At present kerbside collections are only for paper, glass bottles, jars and cans.

The new collection will be for plastic bottles, including most kitchen and bathroom bottles, such as milk containers, soft drinks and shampoo bottles.

The trial in Whittington showed that nearly 90 per cent of residents who regularly recycle at the kerbside added plastic bottles to their recycling boxes.

By next March the council aims to roll out the service to the former Shrewsbury & Atcham, south Shropshire and Bridgnorth council areas.