FORGET that fancy Olympic torch, we’ve got a baton made of old drink cans - and we’re carrying it through Fenland to get you to do a bit more for the planet.

That was the message last weekend from all those taking part in the “Yes You CAN!” relay organised by the recycling organisation RECAP.

It was out to encourage more people to recycle their metal waste, including aerosol and drinks cans, food tins, tin foil and metal trays. All can be put in Fenland residents’ blue bins.

The four-day relay took the baton from St Ives to Peterborough via Cambridge. It reached Fenland on Saturday, when the Manea School of Gardening carried it in a wheelbarrow from Welney to Christchurch. It was picked up there by 1st March Cub Scouts, who walked it on to March.

On Sunday members of March Athletic Club, pictured, ran with it from the bandstand in West End Park to Turves, from where more volunteers took it on to Whittlesey.

Councillor Peter Murphy, Fenland District Council’s portfolio holder responsible for the environment and chairman of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Waste Partnership, said: “This was a fun event with a serious message.

“We’re gradually getting more people to recycle their old tins and cans but there’s still a lot more we could do.”