Henley MP Boris Johnson has warned the Government to ensure new tax rules do not impede the Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment (Toe).

"Don't step on Toe," was his message as guest speaker at the non-profit-making company's fourth annual general meeting, at the River and Rowing Museum, in Henley.

Toe was set up under the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme to distribute money to environmental projects across the county.

Landfill tax, levied on the tonnage of material dumped in landfill sites, is intended to encourage recycling and cut waste by increasing the cost of disposal.

Operators are allowed to direct 20 per cent of the tax they collect towards local environmental projects.

Grants from the Trust have boosted a host of schemes including the Lower Windrush Valley Project, which aims to improve public access and nature conservation along the Windrush River in west Oxfordshire.

In south Oxfordshire, young people in Cholsey, near Wallingford, are enjoying a multi-use games wall on the village recreation ground thanks to a £5000 grant from TOE.

The board of TOE has nine members drawn from the county and district councils, waste companies and environmental interest groups.

Following proposals in the Government's pre-budget report about major changes to the scheme, Mr Johnson said he was keen that Toe should not be left worse off.

Representatives of projects funded by TOE met at the River and Rowing Museum, in Henley, to hear Mr Johnson's speech. TOE chairman Robin Buxton, who said: "We are hopeful that the revised scheme will allow us to continue to flourish.

"In the meantime we look forward to funding many new schemes in 2003."