UPCYCLED items made by creative families during the coronavirus lockdown are due to go under the hammer this weekend.

Recycling company, Yorwaste, which operates across North Yorkshire, including Skipton, came up with its 'BIG Upcycle' following the temporary closure of household recycling centres. It has now teamed up with Ryedale Auction House to auction the best creations to raise funds for the York NHS trust

In order to help cope with the significant increase in unwanted, household items, that were often clean and reusable, Yorwaste challenged people to be creative and use their rubbish to make things.

The initiative attracted hundreds of entries from across the country, and included planters made out of chests of drawers and a ride on car made from an old sewing machine, to a bench made out of old pallets.

The shortlisted entries will be sold via live online auction at Ryedale on Saturday (September 19) and will raise money for York NHS Trust.

Yorwaste’s principal sales manager, Matthew Wilkinson, said: “The lockdown prompted two significant changes in our world. It saw the temporary closure of household recycling centres, and, at the same time, a significant increase in unwanted, household items - which were often clean and reusable. So the perfect solution was to incentivise the public to make good use of their waste.

"The response to the BIG Upcycle has been phenomenal, with over 100 great quality entries, it has been difficult to arrive at a shortlist."

BIG Upcycle charity lots 80 to 83 are available to view on www.ryedaleauctioneers.com, where interested parties can register to auction and place live bids.

The auction of the items will take place from 11 am on Saturday and bidders can place bids prior to or during the auction online, via telephone bidding or in person, where attendance must be pre-booked.