You will all be aware of the new kerbside recycling and waste service that’s rolling out across Trafford and early results are showing that local people are championing it. In one week, over 50 tonnes of paper and card - the weight of around nine elephants - was collected from 7,000 properties in Partington, Flixton and Urmston. That’s a massive increase from the 12 tonnes of paper collected during the last week of the old service from those same properties. For more information about the new service, visit www.trafford.gov.uk/recycling With nights getting colder people will be getting their electric blankets out of the cupboard. Trading standards are offering free electric blanket testing for all Trafford residents this Friday (3 October) at St Matthew’s Church Hall, Stretford.

Faulty electric blankets are the cause of over 5000 fires nationally every year, which result in nearly 20 deaths. Fifty per cent of the 106 blankets that were tested during a similar scheme two years ago had a fault in some respect.

Minor faults will be dealt with by way of a free repair carried out by an electrical expert. More serious faults, such as the lack of an overheat protection device, will result in the blanket being condemned for safety reasons. To make an appointment call Trafford Trading Standards on 0161 912 1377.