A busy county recycling centre is to close for almost three weeks while equipment is upgraded.

Gloucester's Hempsted household recycling centre will shut from December 3 to December 21 so a modern 'squashing' machine for rubbish can be installed.

Currently, fixed compactor skips are used to compress waste before it is transported for recycling, or disposal. This system is now old and becoming unreliable and can cause delays to people visiting the site as well as making maintenance costly.

To solve this, Gloucestershire County Council is bringing in a mobile compactor. Earlier this year Pyke Quarry recycling centre, near Stroud received this upgrade and the council has invested more than £500,000 to modernise the two sites.

Mobile compactors are heavy plant vehicles with hydraulic attachments that can squash the waste in the skips more tightly leaving fewer gaps and making the best use of space.

During the closure at Hempsted staff will have a chance to familiarise themselves with the new mobile waste compaction machine. New and improved signs will be installed for visitors.

The Hempsted site is planned to re-open on Saturday 22 December with winter opening hours, 10am and 4pm.

During the closure of Hempsted residents are asked to take their bulky household waste and recycling to their closest alternative centre:

• Pyke Quarry HRC near Stroud (Closed on Wednesdays)

• Oak Quarry HRC near Coleford (Closed on Tuesdays)

• Wingmoor Farm HRC in Stoke Orchard (Closed on Wednesdays)

Cllr Nigel Moore, cabinet member for environment & planning, said, "We upgraded Hempsted significantly last year, and the new equipment will give the site a more modern and flexible system. Squashing what's in the skips will not only save money in maintenance costs, but it'll be more efficient and reliable too.

"I'd like to thank local people for their patience while Hempsted temporarily closes for the improvement work."

Cllr Pam Tracey, local county councillor for Hempsted, said: "This is a fantastic investment for our local household recycling centre. I know the temporary closure isn't ideal but new kit to speed up the service will be welcomed. Please remember there are different opening hours going into the winter too."

For more details visit www.recycleforgloucestershire.com