Parents invited to free nappy trial

New parents are being invited to take advantage of a scheme introducing them to reusable nappies.

Manchester City Council has been working with Cotton Tails, a company that provides reusable cotton nappies in an effort to reduce the number of disposable nappies being sent to landfill sites, since 2004.

Parents who take up the free month's trial are lent a collection container and biodegradable liners, while freshly washed nappies are delivered to their door every week.

Longsight Councillor Suzanne Richards said: "I hope that parents from the Longsight area will take part in the scheme. The feedback from parents who have taken part so far is that real nappies are kinder to their babies and we're inviting parents to see for themselves how easy the scheme is to use."

The trial is available to all Manchester residents, but there are a limited number of places, and parents must pay a returnable deposit of £30.

For more information or to apply for the trial visit www.manchester.gov.uk/realnappies or call 0161 954 9000.

Manchester Promise - Education, Children & Young People

Manchester Labour passionately believes that education is the route to fulfilling the potential of all our young people. Year on year standards are improving and through the most ambitious school building programme certainly since the second world war we are ensuring our children are taught in the best environment possible. Pupil numbers are growing and we have taken urgent action to increase the number of places available. SureStart is one of Labour's biggest successes and have spread all over the city to give our youngest children and their families the best start in life. We want our young people to be confident about their future which is why we have been working with our sixth forms, the Manchester College, our Universities, employers and other agencies to ensure that every student leaving school can go into high quality training or education or into a job with training that gives recognised qualifications. we are rapidly increasing the number of apprenticeships available. We are also concerned with what young people do in their leisure time which is why we have reorganised our services to young people with the aim of providing every young person with the offer of at least five hours a week high quality sport, leisure or cultural activity.

* We promise to protect, extend and run more services from our SureStart Centres

* We promise to continue improving our schools until every child has an outstanding education available locally

* We promise to continue investing in our schools until every school is new or totally modernised

* We promise to ensure every young person leaving school has a place in training or education or a job with training

* We promise that every young person will have a minimum offer of sports,arts or other leisure activity

* We promise to work with parents/carers so that our children attend school everyday to make the most of their opportunities