This week is Real Nappy Week a time to take stock of the environmental cost of using disposable nappies and to check out the wide range of alternatives now available to parents.

Nearly three billion nappies are thrown away in the UK every year and 90 per cent end up in landfill sites some 2000 tonnes of disposable nappies are buried in North Wiltshire's landfill site alone.

It is not known how long it takes them to biodegrade but it could take hundreds of years.

Green campaigners say home laundered cloth nappies save parents money and they are made mostly from natural fabrics while disposable nappies are made of paper pulp, absorbent chemicals and plastic.

Lucy Jiwa, of Challows Lane, Biddestone, mum was so enthused by using real nappies she decided to make her own design and now she has set up a business selling her Button-Up Nappies through the Green Ginger health food shop in Corsham.