MUMS can collect a cheque for £30 by agreeing to put their babies into washable nappies instead of using disposables.

The idea came from the Buckinghamshire Waste Partnership, which is horrified that 87,000 disposable nappies are thrown away in the county every day.

The cost to the council tax payer of putting all this paper into waste disposal sites is more than £250,000 year in landfill tax.

Apart from cutting back on waste, parents who buy two dozen towelling nappies at about £7 each and keep washing them, instead of buying packet after packet of disposables, can save £500 over the nappy-time of their baby, says the partnership, which represents district and county councils right across the country.

Buckinghamshire Real Nappy Initiative is offering £30 to parents using washable nappies to mark next week's National Nappy Week.

Janice O'Flynn-Mundin, who is running the scheme and has two small children herself, said children were more easily potty-trained if they wore terry nappies.

She said washing was easy, now that everyone had machines, but parents could also now use a nappy laundering service.

Roadshows and coffee mornings christened Nappuchino Mornings are being held where mums can see samples of new nappies, which are different from old fashioned towelling squares.

Nappuchino Mornings take place on Monday, June 20, at St James Church Hall, Plomer Hill, Downley. and on Thursday, June 23, at Costa Coffee, 35 Sycamore Drive, Amersham, from 9.30am to 11.30 am.

A roadshow takes place at Prestwood Toddler Group, off Nairdwood Lane, Prestwood, on Wednesday, June 22, from 9.45am to 11.30am. The Nappy Shop in the Octagon Shopping Centre, High Wycombe, sets up on Friday, June 24, from midday to 3pm, and on Saturday, June 25, from 10am to 4pm.