Up to 1,000 worms spend their days munching through Ruth Robinson's household waste, making it into liquid fertiliser and compost which she uses on her plants.

Ruth, of Cornstall Buildings, Stamford, said: "It is just an alternative way of getting rid of all the food waste. Worms are natural composters and they don't take any effort at all. You can go away for a month and just leave them to it."

The worms' favourite food is eggshells, but they will eat almost anything including food waste, paper and cardboard, fluff and hair. In fact, the only things they won't eat are meat, onions, citrus fruits or plastic.

The wormery is made of four layers with the waste added to the top layer and progressing down until it is liquid in the last layer. When the last layer is emptied to pour on to the garden, the empty tub goes to the top and the process starts again.

Due to the success of the wormery, Ruth says she hasn't put out a bag for landfill in the last six weeks, because the hungry worms are gobbling up all her waste.

Ruth's partner Andrew Neal, 40, of Perth Road, Stamford, also has a wormery.

She said: "During the summer it can attract flies, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives. I think people think I'm a bit peculiar but most people are interested. Children also love them.

"If you don't mind worms and can afford it, I would definitely recommend a wormery."

Ruth, 35, who works as a children's nanny in South Luffenham, was inspired to do more for the environment after spending five years in Kununurra in Australia.

She said: "They live more ethically over there and have solar panels. I would like wind turbines and solar panels eventually."

Even Ruth, who buys local produce from Stamford market because there's less packaging and uses friendly detergents and saves on water, admits she could do more.

She said: "I fly a lot and my car isn't very environmentally friendly, but I think it's important that landfills are not filled up. If you can take something out, rather than put something into a landfill, it is good."

Ruth bought her wormery from environmental company Wiggly Wigglers.
To find out more about the range of products, visit www.wigglywigglers.co.uk