A ROADSHOW is touring West Devon showing residents how they could save money by keeping food fresher for longer and cutting down on the amount they waste.

West Devon Borough Council's recycling team will be sharing money-saving tips which could save the average family with children up to £60 per month.

There is even the chance to win a hamper of useful items to help store and save food.

The roadshow is visiting Okehampton, Hatherleigh, Belstone and Chagford during February and March. 

Cllr Robert Sampson, the borough council's community services vice chairman, said: 'We are still throwing away vast quantities of perfectly good food, with twenty percent of West Devon's black bin waste being made up of food.

'The aim of the road show is to pass on simple ideas on how to keep food fresher for longer and make the most of leftovers.

'I would be surprised if you too don't pick up a tip which could help save you money on your food bills.'

The borough council has been working with the Love Food Hate Waste campaign to spread the word in West Devon about cutting down on food waste.

At Chagford, the road show will be promoting the award-winning community group, Proper Job, which runs a local reduce, reuse recycle and compost shop.

Cllr Sampson added: 'Packaging innovation means many food producers and shops use breathable fruit and vegetable bags.

'Yet, 61% of people mistakenly think that produce will sweat or go off quicker if left in the pack – whereas the opposite is true!

'The message is leave fresh fruit and vegetables in their original packaging, where possible.'   

The recycling team will also be able to give advice on a range of other topics from kerbside collections to sorting your waste for recycling.

Everyone who visits the road show will have the chance to enter a free draw to win a hamper full of 'food smart' products.

The road show dates are:

Tuesday, February 18 — Hatherleigh Market, 9.30am to noon; Thursday, February 20 – Okehampton, Fore Street, 11am to 2pm; Thursday, March 13 – Belstone Village Hall, 10am to 2pm and Friday, March 28 – Chagford Library, 10.30am to 12.30pm.   

For more information email [email protected]">[email protected] or call 01822 813600.