WINTER opening hours will come into effect at County Durham’s household waste recycling centres from next month.

Durham County Council is advising residents to check opening times at their local sites before visiting, as the new hours will be in place from Thursday, October 1 to Thursday, March 31.

Centres at Annfield Plain, Potterhouse Lane, Tudhoe, Seaham, Heighington Lane, Romanway and Middleton-in-Teesdale will be open seven days a week between 9am and 3.30pm.

Sites at Hett Hills and Stainton Grove will open on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from 9am until 3.30pm.

Thornley, Coxhoe and Horden’s centres will be open Monday to Thursday between 10am and 4pm, closed Fridays, and from 9am until 3.30pm on weekends and Bank Holidays.

Meanwhile, the mobile recycling centre in Frosterley, which serves residents in the Weardale area, is available on alternate Saturdays from 9am until 12pm on the following dates: September 19; October 3, 17 and 31; November 14 and 28; December 12; January 2, 16 and 30; February 13 and 27; March 12 and 26; April 9 and 23; May 7 and 21; June 4 and 18; July 2, 16 and 30; and August 13.

Located just off the A689 in Frosterley, the site is a non-waste permit scheme facility and accepts a range of items for recycling.

Commercial waste produced by businesses is not accepted at household waste recycling centres and must be disposed of legally at an appropriate licensed facility or by arranging a commercial waste collection.

For more information on business waste collections, visit durham.gov.uk/commercialwaste or call 03000 262 660.

To find out more about household waste recycling centres visit durham.gov.uk/hwrc or call 03000-261000.