RESIDENTS are encouraged to reduce food waste and eat pumpkins after Halloween, 'as more than 8 million go to landfill every year'.

Dorset Council is urging anyone who picks or buys a pumpkin for Halloween this year to prevent it from going to landfill by eating it in meals and recycling leftovers in a food waste bin.

For those who do not like the taste of pumpkin, the council suggests using a squash instead.

A spokesman for Dorset Council said: "Did you know that over 8m pumpkins go to landfill each year? Save the pumpkins and reduce food waste by using up your leftovers.

"Don't like the taste of pumpkin? A squash can be just as spectacular. Make sure you recycle leftovers in your brown food waste bin."