NEWPORT is still the greenest city in the UK according an ecological index released by a leading environmental charity.

Last October, WWF, formerly the World Wildlife Fund, placed Newport and Plymouth at the top of a green league table of 60 cities around the UK. And the latest index places the two cities jointly at the top of the list again.

WWF analysed the impact of the world's ecology of the average resident of each city - their ecological "footprint".

Newport used the equivalent of 2.78 "planets" of resources, because of the level at which residents recycled, used less energy in their homes, used public transport and bought locally-sourced produce.

Newport's recycling record - including ventures such as Wastesavers - are a key part of the city's success.

Newport East AM John Griffiths said the city was doing a lot of good things such as being in the forefront of recycling.

"I think the people of Newport have bought into this idea that it is crucially important all us think very hard about the way we live and we have a responsibility to recycle, use less energy and use our cars less," he said.

He said the report was encouraging and showed the city was going the right way. He hoped people would continue make changes so even more progress could be made.

However, even Newport will still go into what WWF calls "ecological debt" for 2008 on May 11 - more than seven months before the end of the year.

WWF, says UK cities will have far exceeded their fair share of the earth's natural resources for this year by next month.

Winchester residents were the first to over-exploit their "ecological credit card" on April 10.

WWF-UK's head of campaigns Colin Butfield said the battle for the environment would be won or lost in the cities which had the highest potential for eco-living.

He said the solution lay in addressing the careless consumption of energy but it was not just about consumers; government and businesses had to play their part.