PARENTS in Wyre Forest are being urged to dump disposable nappies for good as part of a national initiative. romoting National Real Nappy Week in Wyre Forest are Ruth Campbell, Sarah Campbell, Lydia Hill and Laura Elcock.

Wyre Forest District Council has made a "cheeky" bid to persuade people to say "bottoms up" to real nappies - and make a "rash" of savings every month.

This week - National Real Nappy Week - it has been revealed collection of disposable nappies in the district costs about £100,000 every year.

Kidderminster couple Slava and Damian Elcock, who have a seven-month-old daughter, Laura, are among those spreading the word about the real thing.

Mrs Elcock said: "I am using real nappies at the moment and they do not take up time. Disposable nappies contain chemicals in the dry layer which are unregulated, and their long-term effects are not known."

Beth Williams, the council's assistant project officer for community health, safety and environment, said parents could save £35 every month by using real nappies - even when washing detergents were taken into account.

And she was keen to press home the bottom line - real nappies do not contain scratchy paper or plastic to rub babies' skin, and natural fibres allow the skin to breathe and absorb moisture.

"People have a misconception about real nappies. The image of big safety pins, folding and boiling is no longer relevant," she added.

Britain's parents throw away eight million disposable nappies every day - and nappy waste makes up four per cent of household waste, about three-quarters of which is raw human sewage.

More information is available from the council on 01562 732754.