IF YOU like compost, you will be pleased to find out that bags of the stuff are being given away across Uttlesford in May.

IF YOU like compost, you will be pleased to find out that bags of the stuff are being given away across Uttlesford in May.

Over various Saturdays and Sundays at locations all over the district, free bagfuls of the soil improver will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents will need to bring their own bags along to be filled, but will not be charged.

The compost is the product of what residents across Uttlesford have been putting in their brown bins.

Waste and recycling officer, Catherine Auckland, said: "With the summer just around the corner, this is a great chance to collect some free compost to give your garden a major boost.

"Wherever you live in the district you shouldn't have to travel too far to get to a compost giveaway location, but I recommend you head down there as early as you can as in previous years our supplies have been snapped up pretty quickly."

The dates and locations are as follows. All giveaways will run from 9am to 3pm.

Saturday May 1 - Great Dunmow (Chequers Lane car park)

Sunday May 2 - Stansted (Lower Street car park)

Sunday May 9 - Thaxted (Margaret Street car park)

Saturday May 15 - Takeley (sports field)

Sunday May 16 - Saffron Walden (Swan Meadow car park)