EURO bosses are sending Newport city councillors a wad of money to turn the city's rubbish into cash.

The money will be used to build a flagship £1.4 million centre to recycle as much of the city's rubbish as possible, and will create 53 jobs.

The centre, part-funded by Europe, part by Newport city council, will also be used to spread the recycling message to children.

It will provide a new purpose-built home for Newport Wastesavers on a brownfield site at Esperanto Way, near the Transporter Bridge.

Opening next Christmas, the centre will employ 53 people, provide work training for disadvantaged groups and environmental education for schoolchildren.

Economic development minister Andrew Davies announced the scheme on a visit to inspect other EU-funded projects in Newport.

The scheme has been awarded £665,777 of Objective Two funds, which has been matched by Newport council's local regeneration fund.

The 1.4-acre site will be home to: Facilities for sorting; and packing materials for recycling; workshops which will refurbish furniture, electrical and IT equipment.

Mr Davies said: "This project shows how European funding is transforming Gwent and providing new opportunities. While most of the talk is of Objective One, the Newport Wastesavers scheme shows how Objective Two is also making a difference. I recently visited the Ringland Centre, another recipient of Objective Two, and saw the difference such funding had made there."

Wastesavers general manager Mike Croxford welcomed the news, saying the centre would be "a new landmark for the city".

Mr Croxford said: "I am very excited by this brilliant news. "At the moment we go out to schools to teach them about recycling. Soon they will be able to come to us and learn about recycling in a safe environment. We will have three workshops providing training and supplying our shop in Pill.

"The whole area will be landscaped, creating a new landmark for the city alongside the landmark Transporter Bridge."

Newport East AM John Griffiths said: "This is fantastic news and will allow the terrific work that they do to expand further. Wastesavers provide training, work experience and jobs to some of the most disadvantaged in our community, from people with learning difficulties to prisoners.

"This funding will allow them to increase their educational programme and continue to help the environment."