Winners of the Richmond borough Green Project of the Year award are "bowled over" by their success.

The Richmond upon Thames Furniture Scheme scooped the prize at the recent Green Guardian Awards ceremony for their efforts to keep bulky items out of landfill sites.

The Twickenham-based charity, who started life in Kew in 1990, started out to provide second hand furniture for people in need who were looking to set up house.

Trustee and honorary secretary, Joanna Gregory, said: "It was for people who had been homeless and meant they could create a home of their own."

Going from strength to strength, the scheme collect donated furniture from across the borough reusing it and substantially reducing the estimated 1000 tons of furniture binned in Richmond yearly.

Judges at the Green Awards were also impressed by the project's scheme to train disadvantaged or disabled young people in the borough how to refurbish broken furnishings for reuse.

Of receiving their eco-award, Joanna said: "We were bowled over. It's down to the efforts of so many people - a very good team of workers, volunteers, trustees and the local community who are always coming in and making suggestions.

"We have a lot of local support. It is an award that belongs to everyone and it means a great deal to us. "

The Furniture Scheme will now go on to the Green Guardian Awards on November 16 and compete against other London borough regional winners.

For more information about the Furniture Scheme visit furniture.scheme.ukgateway.net or call 0208 755 4665.