THOUSANDS of New Forest families have got the blues - but it's good news for the environment.

Residents in the Ringwood and Fordingbridge area are being given bright blue bags under a paper recycling scheme launched by New Forest Council.

The bags will hold items such as newspapers, leaflets and junk mail.

Doorstep collections began this week. The bags will be picked up fortnightly, with new ones left in their place each time.

Known as Recycling Plus, the scheme is the first step towards providing Ringwood and Fordingbridge with the same recycling facilities that are available elsewhere in the district.

Money for the scheme has come from a £192,000 grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Recycling Plus was launched at the Furlong Centre, Ringwood, by town mayor Michael Thierry.

"We are beginning with paper, cardboard and other paper products as a first step. The collected material will go initially to a depot at Lymington and then on to a paper mill in Essex," said Cllr Thierry.

"Ringwood and Fordingbridge people already use the many recycling centres in the area.

"We want residents to continue to use those centres for glass and other recyclable materials until we are able to include those items in a fully comprehensive kerbside scheme."

Extra blue sacks can be obtained from local council offices in Ringwood and Fordingbridge.