Homeowners will be paid to sort through their rubbish under a pilot scheme to get people recycling.

The Government-funded rewards scheme will be trialed in 1,600 homes in the Arun District Council area.

Ninety two per cent of people in the district, which covers the Littlehampton area, already recycle but those that take part will now be eligible for up to £1.25 in vouchers each time they do so.

It means if all householders begin to recycle, the Government would have to pay up to £2,000 each time a recycling collection is picked up.

The project is divided into two areas to aid researchers at the University of Brighton to assess how effective an incentive scheme is.

Dr Marie Harder, from the waste and energy research group at the university, said: "This exciting pilot project is to be based around 1,600 properties in the Wick area and is split into two distinct bands.

"In one area, every time a property puts their wheeled recycling bin out for collection they will receive a voucher worth £1.25 to be used in local shops.

"In the other area, a household will receive a voucher worth 75p when the recycling bin is put out and a further 50p if it is at least one third full.

"It is hoped this incentive will encourage households to think about recycling in more detail and then help to further raise the levels of participation in the scheme."

Funded by the Government's Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the pilot involves rewarding householders for actively recycling their aluminium and steel cans, plastic bottles, paper and card.

To be able to participate, households must have their wheeled recycling bins out for collection by 7am, otherwise they may be too late for the inspection teams to note their contributions.

This pilot will run until February 28 and all properties in the selected area in Wick will be informed by a leaflet through their letterbox. The first vouchers will be delivered to properties on November 22 after an inspection that morning before the recycling bins are collected.

Residents in the scheme may use the vouchers in participating shops on Wick Street Parade but must do so by the end of February.