A CONSERVATION group in Weymouth has started recycling unwanted fishing gear from the Channel Islands.

Wyke Regis-based non-profit environmental conservation group Weymouth & Portland Marine Litter project has launched a new scheme to recycle Guernsey's unwanted fishing gear.

The group is working in partnership with Condor Ferries and Guernsey-based environmental campaigner Richard Lord.

The fishing gear waste will be shipped to Poole, where the group will collect it before transporting it to their recycling hub on Weymouth Harbour.

Currently, all nets and rope found washed up on Guernsey beaches are taken to a landfill on the island.

Weymouth & Portland Marine Litter project currently recycles a variety of marine plastics from across Dorset.

The group's recycling project supported by the Rockfish restaurant chain and Weymouth Harbour sorts all the waste from broken buckets and spades to fishing gear before sending it on to Exeter City Council to be recycled.

Since opening the hub last summer the group has saved 3.5 tonnes of plastic from landfill or incineration.

All the plastic recycling is done in Devon with the recycled products being used in everything from clothing to kayaks.