RECYCLING coffee pods, crisp packets and toothbrushes has raised more than £11,000 for Wiltshire Air Ambulance in just six months.

Starting as just a Facebook page in 2014, voluntary group Recycle for Wiltshire Air Ambulance has been busy recycling a selection of products packaging across the county, in order to reach the bumper total of £11,728.

Launched by Sam Peters and Lesa Snook, the initiative began with just recycling Tassimo and L’OR coffee pods and baby food pouches, and now includes toothbrushes and crisp, biscuit and pet food packaging.

After recruiting volunteers to act as recycling drop off points, the scheme has now introduced around 70 sites up and down the county where people can drop their waste.

“The support shown by everyone is simply overwhelming, with so many new schemes and more people joining us we are on track to raise £2,000 a month. That’s amazing considering it would take around a year in the early days to raise that amount," Sam said.

Lesa added: “We still have areas around the county which need a local drop off point as well as volunteers who might be able to spare an hour once a week to help with the sorting and packing at our various sites. We would love to hear from anyone who might be able to help us.”

Wiltshire Air Ambulance community relations assistant Hollie Perryman said the initiative "has gone from strength to strength", adding: “They now have people from all over Wiltshire getting involved, including lots of schools and businesses, all collecting used crisp packets, coffee pods and pet products with the aim of generating valuable funds for the charity.

“The work Lesa, Sam and all the volunteers put into the project is immense and, of equal importance, it helps the environment as well. We can’t thank them enough.”