Fishermen are being won over by the living waste disposal scheme

Gammarus shrimp, which are very keen on white fish meat and scallops, are being used in a "living dustbin" project which is being trialled in Newlyn.

The project is part of work to modernise the port and reduce amounts of fish waste that have to be taken to landfill or to Grimsby for processing.

Scientists are delighted with findings so far and may try other creatures to get rid of different waste products.

The shrimp, usually between 15cm and 20cm in length and a close relative of the Sandhopper, have been used to strip fish carcasses down to the bone, meaning less waste flesh has to be disposed of.

Newlyn fisheries project officer Tony Woodhams said the cutting down on waste saved money in disposal costs.

One of the experts, Phil Midge, said the project was still in its early days but said they had already won over some critics on the quayside about the viability of the scheme.