TORFAEN has become the first local authority in Wales to hit 45 percent recycling rates.

This is five percent higher than the Assembly's 2009/10 target for authorities across Wales and to celebrate the milestone, pupils at Greenmeadow Primary School created a giant '45' in the grounds of the school.

The figure comes after an extra 7,000 homes in the borough were added to the council's twin bin scheme earlier this year in Blaenavon and Abersychan, bringing the total number of homes in the scheme up to 38,000.

Executive member for operational services, John Cunningham, said: "I am so proud of the efforts made by residents to help us increase our recycling rates and I would like to thank them for their support.

“But despite our success, we will not rest on our laurels and will continue to push for even better rates."