A six-month no-booking trial has begun at Leamington's recycling centre.

Warwickshire County Council (WCC) launched the trial at Princes Drive and its other recycling centres on Monday 24 November.

The change means locals do not need to book at any of the nine sites across the county for the first time since the pandemic.

Bookings were introduced in 2020 to support social distancing. It has since "helped to manage demand" across Warwickshire's network of sites.

Cllr Darren Cheshire, portfolio holder for environment, heritage and culture, said: "We know that Warwickshire residents care deeply about recycling and doing their bit for the environment.

"This trial will make it easier for people to access our recycling centres and dispose of their waste and recyclables responsibly, further reducing the temptation to fly tip, without needing to plan their visit in advance."

As this is a trial, WCC says it will closely monitor visitor numbers, queuing times, customer satisfaction, and operational impacts over the six-month period before deciding whether to remove or reinstate the booking system permanently.

To minimise waiting times, residents are encouraged to plan their visits carefully to avoid the busiest times, which are typically Saturday and Sunday mornings, bank holidays, and the days immediately after Christmas.