Cornwall's newest team of waste disposal operatives could hold the solution for dealing with up to a tenth of the county's waste.

A wriggling mass of worms is being used in a pilot project set up by Kerrier District Council and recycling organisation ReMaDe Kernow.

The Stithians Vermiculture Project has been operational since the end of last year and around 180 households are now having their non-meat food scraps collected each week.

The scraps are then processed in worm beds created on land belonging to local farmer John Thomas.

Waste is collected in special bins

"We are making steady inroads," said Andy Rogers from ReMaDe Kernow

"Well over half a ton of organic waste is being collected every week, and the quantities are rising steadily.

"Each week new households have been taking up the scheme."

By the end of the year the project should have collected over 27 tons of material which would otherwise have gone to landfill.