BURNLEY'S WHSmith store are spearheading a campaign to kick start recycling in the town and are asking the public to help.

Managers of the Market Square shop are calling on people who were planning to bin their Christmas cards to bring them to the shop.

The store is recycling the cards on behalf of the Woodland Trust, a leading woodland conservation charity.

This is the second year that the two organisations have worked in partnership on the Christmas Card Recycling Scheme, which is also supported by waste management company Cleanway.

The 2002 scheme saw 34 million cards recycled which is equivalent to 671 tons and placed end to end the cards would stretch from London to New York.

The funds generated from the scheme will help the Woodland Trust to care for new woodlands across the UK, which has already helped towards the creation and care of 22 new woods.

Melanie Mcfarland, Manager of Burnley's WH Smith, said: "Recycling is a fantastic way of making a positive impact on the environment. And the more cards that are recycled, the more the environment will benefit. In 2003 we want to help the Woodland Trust recycle even more cards than last year, helping the to create valuable new native woodland." Cards can be left in the special recycling bins in all WHSmith high street stores across the UK up until February 2.