Rubbish is helping finance two recreation projects in the village of Sutton Courtenay, near Abingdon.

Money from landfill tax credits, totalling more than £100,000, is going to improve the Old Wallingford Way recreation ground and create a new play area for young children on land next to the school.

Wren --Waste Recycling Environmental Limited -- has given the parish council a grant of £50,000 towards improvements at the recreation ground.

Included in the project will be a skatepark which has been designed with the help of young people who belong to the local youth group covering five villages, Damascus. A youth shelter is also proposed and new play equipment is to be installed to replace the old equipment which does not come up to new safety standards. The parish council has set aside £12,000 for the equipment.

Another group that assists organisations with the help of landfill tax credits is Toe, The Oxfordshire Environment, run by the Oxfordshire Rural Community Council. Toe has made a grant of £52,000 to pay for a landscaped recreation and play area for young children on land next to the school.