GREEN-fingered residents will shoulder their shovels to scoop up piles of free compost.

A district council is giving away the plant-enriching soil to "give back" to gardeners and encourage people to be more environmentally-friendly.

Gavin Walton, spokesman for South Oxfordshire District Council, said: "We do compost giveaways to give something back to residents.

"It also helps to ensure people avoid purchasing products that could contain peat, which can damage the environment."

The mulch will be well-travelled by the time it reaches its rehoming centre - residents could be sprinkling their spring flowerbeds with organic matter which was once on their dinner plates.

Mr Walton said: "The compost comes from the garden waste collected through our brown bin scheme. This means residents get a free locally produced product which they can use in their gardens, helping to continue the recycling cycle."

Kitchen caddies, bin liners and other freebies will available at both giveaway sessions, as well as discounted compost bins priced at £10.

The collections run on April 9 at Rye Farm car park in Abingdon and April 10 at the old South Oxfordshire District Council offices in Crowmarsh Gifford, from 9-11am.

Compost giveaways are usually organised by the council at the change of seasons.