A LOCAL authority is backing a campaign to recycle small old electrical devices with the aid of a fluffy feline friend.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is calling on residents to join in the environmental drive.

The national 'Recycle Your Electricals' has launched ‘HypnoCat’, a pink fluffy cat, to urge householders into recycling their small old electricals.

The devices are one of the fastest growing waste streams in the UK.

Around 155,000 tonnes of waste electricals are thrown away in the UK each year, and householders are thought to be hoarding 527 million small electrical items.

It’s estimated that hidden within Blackburn with Darwen homes there are enough cables to stretch all the way along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and back.

Scott Butler, the campaign's director, said: “We are throwing away valuable materials that are lost forever.

"These small, old, unwanted electricals contain 75 per cent of materials that can be recycled or reused such as precious materials like gold, silver and copper.

"HypnoCat, our messenger for the campaign, will be providing step-by-step information on how to reuse and recycle old electricals.”

Clr Jim Smith, Blackburn with Darwen Council's environment boss, said: “Our area already provides recycling facilities for electricals through kerbside recycling collections for small electricals, as well as recycling large and small electrical items at our Household Waste Recycling Centres in Blackburn and Darwen.

"We are delighted to have joined this campaign to make sure that we further promote the importance of recycling electricals to more of our residents.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council is one of more than 80 local authorities across the UK taking part.