A firm which specialises in collecting and recycling wood has produced a six-figure turnover in just three years.

Oxford Wood Recycling was started by Helen Porter and Richard Snow as a social enterprise employing volunteers and those facing barriers into regular work and set up home in Milton Park after winning a year's free accommodation in a competition.

Now it has unveiled a turnover of £100,000 which has been generated by its core business of collecting, reconditioning and selling on waste wood.

Director Mr Snow said: "Our sales are up 93 per cent on last year. We have got a good model now and a great team of people which has made a real difference."

Changes in legislation have also boosted the bottom line with companies charged increasing amounts for sending waste to landfill.

Other income has come from the production and sale of wood products such as garden benches, compost bins and nest boxes. The business, which employs eight people who work between half a day and five days a week, has just completed its 1,000th waste wood collection.

Last year, 562 tonnes of waste wood was recycled, a 72 per cent increase on the previous year, with just eight per cent of wood sent to landfill.

Customers include Oxford building firms such as Beard and Knowles, house builders Bellway Homes and Barratt Homes.