A STORRIDGE mum has launched a new recycling initiative offering unwanted items free to good homes.

Paula Little is the driving force behind the Malvern Hills Freecycling Group - an online group whose members advertise and request secondhand goods that would otherwise be thrown away.

Freecycling has been a huge hit around the world and is currently sweeping the UK.

A variety of local groups have sprung up, offering people the chance to get something for nothing and prevent the build-up of landfill.

Paula said: "I was inspired to become involved with freecycle when I realised that there was a recycling niche which needed to be filled.

"The beauty of this scheme is that items are diverted from landfill to people who will appreciate receiving them, whether the recipients are individuals or a local not-for-profit organisation.

"It feels good to give away things you don't want, or need, to someone who will make good use of them."

Users sign up for free and can then advertise their item or request something. Anyone interested in an item liaises with the advertiser, who then decides who they want it to go to.

Currently up for grabs on the Malvern site are a Renault 5, 30 tonnes of soil, a video recorder, bathroom suite, hamster cage, gas barbecue and a ride-on toy tractor.

There are also requests from Cradley pre-school playgroup, which is looking for dressing-up costumes and from a local woman who wants empty jam jars to make jam for the WI market.

Most things can be advertised or requested on the site, but items such as firearms, alcohol and tobacco are banned.

The only other rule is that no money can be exchanged.

To join, visit http://groups.yahoo. com/group/malvernhillsfreecycle.