FIFTEEN thousand used Christmas cards have been collected by the Isle of Wight Council in response to a nationwide appeal by the Woodland Trust.

Pop star and gardener Kim Wilde launched the card appeal in London in early January on behalf of the trust - one of the United Kingdom's leading woodland conservation charities.

Stores belonging to WHSmith and Tesco have been acting as card collection points. The cards are destined to go to a recycling plant and proceeds will go towards the creation of more native woodland in this country.

The council's internal collection point was the snack bar on the fourth floor of County Hall. Councillors and staff from across the authority, including teachers, responded to the appeal. By the January 24 collection deadline, 15 red sacks had been filled, each containing around 1,000 cards. The total collection - 110kg - was taken to Tesco at Westridge in Ryde.

Councillor Shirley Smart, council leader, said: "This appeal is a wonderful idea, and I congratulate everyone who has responded. The recycling initiative helps the environment in many ways, not least by reducing pressure on the Island's landfill site.