Food “champions” have been recruited at up to £8.50 an hour to lecture Wyre Forest people on their door-steps about cutting back on waste.

But the move has been criticised by a councillor who claims money for the new jobs “could be better spent”.

The recruitment of the eight food champions follows a national outcry by Conservative politicians against so-called “non-jobs” being created by the Government. The Food Champions are expected to visit 24,500 homes.

Te campaign is expected to run for eight weeks from January 12.

The full-time jobs have been advertised at between £7.43 and £8.49 on a fixed term contract, with a Saturday bonus.

The move forms part of the authority’s Love Food Hate Waste campaign and is being funded by money from WRAP, The Waste and Resources Action Programme, a not-for-profit company created as part of the Government’s waste strategy.

Councillor Fran Oborski said was “concerned” by the move”.

“Although this will create jobs in a time of recession I would have thought that there are far more important things for people to be doing.”

The Food Champions will be chatting face-to-face with people on their doorsteps and encouraging people to take actions that can help reduce the amount of household waste.

Officials claim that even small changes can lead to big environmental improvements for the county and help reduce the amount of waste sent to tip sites which are fast running out of space.

They also say that with a little thought the average Midland family will be able to make savings of about £420 a year.