Ref. 28443-21MOST people look forward to receiving cards before Christmas - but Lynda Murray is eagerly awaiting them come January.

Lynda's home at 16 Templars Firs, Wootton Bassett, is an official Christmas card recycling point.

Last year, the 40-year-old collected six bin bags of unwanted Christmas cards from her neighbours to take into Swindon to her nearest recycling point.

As a result, Wootton Bassett town council contacted her to ask her if she would act as an official collector this year and she has accepted the challenge. Her home is one of three official recycling points in Wootton Bassett, the others are the town council offices in the High Street and Wootton Bassett School.

"I am a recycling fanatic," said Lynda, who is an assistant editor at a publishing firm in Calne and is married to Tony, 42.

"I will put a collection bin outside my house just after New Year and will leave it there until January 25.'' Then she will take the cards to recycling bins at Sainsbury's in Bridgemead.

But Lynda doesn't just limit her green lifestyle to Christmas she recycles throughout the year.

She regularly sorts out her rubbish into categories such as glass, tin cans, foil, plastic and paper ready for recycling.

Being green has always been important to Lynda, who has taught her two grown up sons, to recycle wherever possible.

"My husband was in the forces and was stationed in Germany for a number of years. They're very big on recycling over there and I just got into the habit. When we returned home I just carried on."

Lynda is also trying to put together a leaflet about recycling in Wootton Bassett to encourage others to go green.

"If people knew more about recycling and it was easier then I think it would be more popular.

"More and more people are using the kerbside recycling service in Wootton Bassett now," she said.

Emma-Kate Lidbury