Sir – Do your readers know that there is an Aladdin s Cave in this Borough ? It is a cave full to overflowing with colourful, exotic materials from the East, rolls of cloth from far away places with strange sounding names, decorations from home and abroad

Sir - Do your readers know that there is an Aladdin's Cave in this Borough ? It is a cave full to overflowing with colourful, exotic materials from the East, rolls of cloth from far away places with strange sounding names, decorations from home and abroad, and items too numerous to mention in box after box, bag after bag, crate after crate...

I refer of course to that Repository of Rubbish, by name the Wot-Ever Scrap Store sited in the romantic surroundings of Martinfield, behind the B&Q store.

My wife and I came across Wot-Ever a few weeks ago and so impressed were we by the diversity of items which are usually thrown away, but which an increasing number of local residents are contributing, that we resolved to support this most determined attempt to reduce our rubbish.

So far, by recycling our plastic trays, containers, bits and pieces from all that over-packaged food and goods from the supermarkets, diverse metal "bits and pieces", toilet roll centres, stout cardboard packets etc etc, we have reduced the contents of our dustbin to just one medium plastic bag full per week - even during the Christmas period!

Wot-Ever is part of the Connect Club Charity. They collect stuff that is thrown out by local industry and make it available for creative re-use.

But individuals can also donate items as well and anyone can become a member - it costs a modest £15 per family for a year. For schools and community groups, nursery and Sunday schools etc the cost of membership is £25 a year but they have unlimited access to all the stuff at Wot-Ever, for their projects.

At the Friends of the Museum Service Xmas Party last month, all the Christmas decorations were made from recycled decorative materials - and were very impressive!

I believe that Wot-Ever, which is a registered charity, is doing a magnificent job. But it requires two things:

l About a dozen more volunteers. All the practical sorting, handling and storage is carried out by dedicated volunteers, but there too few of them. Another dozen or so part-time helpers would make such a difference to Wot-Ever. I hope that readers of this letter will offer their help - even just an hour or two a week would assist.

l More subscribers. Although the shelves are pretty full, there is room for more, and we do require more people to come and take away items for re-use. I have dedicated myself to ensuring that more people know about Wot-Ever - and our worshipful Mayor, Cllr Carl Storer, responded positively to my invitation for him to enter the Aladdin's Cave; he was very surprised at what he saw!

The address is Wot-Ever Scrap Store, Unit 6, Bridgegate Centre, Martinfield, WGC, AL7 1JG; call 01707 371719 or 273294, email

connectclub.scrapstore@virgin.net or visit www.connectclub.org.uk

Opening times are Monday 11am - 3pm; Thursday noon - 5pm; Saturday 10am - noon

So visit the Cave and marvel at what is being down in the name of recycling and re-use!

Dr Dennis Lewis, The Links, WGC.