RECYCLING has gone into the space age at one Winchester superstore.

The world's first fully automated recycling machine was yesterday unveiled by Secretary of State for the Environment, Margaret Beckett, at Tesco in Winnall.

The futuristic gadget uses space technology including infra-red spectroscopes and a real time camera to scan and sort plastic, glass and aluminium before crushing them.

Tesco says the new machine will be faster, cleaner and more efficient than any other recycling unit ever used in the UK.

It will be on trial at the Winchester store and if it's successful, will be rolled out to other stores across the country.

Mrs Beckett hopes the new machine will encourage more people to recycle. "I really hope it is a big success so we can up recycling rates to everybody's advantage," she said.

Other guests of honour included city and county council representatives and children from Winnall Primary School who have all been involved in the project.

The Tesco machine will replace normal recycling containers which will be used at other locations.