Somerset is the Westcountry's top recycling county, figures from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) show.

The county, famous for its cider, recycled 47.28 per cent of its household waste in 2006/07, making it one of the most successful counties in the country.

Devon took second place in the South West with 45.8 per cent, followed by Dorset (42.34 per cent) and Wiltshire (38.24 per cent).

Gloucestershire finished in fifth place with 33.01 per cent, while Cornwall ranked bottom of the regional table with 30.65 per cent.

Teignbridge, in Devon, was also cited as being one of the top 10 districts for recycling and composting, green recycling and having some of the lowest amounts of waste per household.

The South West is the second best performing region in England for household recycling, the figures reveal.

The region recycles 37.2 per cent of its waste, just behind the East of England with 38.3 per cent.

Recycling rates in the South West have increased significantly since 2001 when levels stood at just 14.9 per cent.

The national average was 30.9 per cent in 2006/07.