A MOUNTAIN of abandoned televisions is piling up in North Devon.

The switch to digital television has led thousands of people to throw out their TVs, in spite of the fact that older televisions can still receive a digital signal by adding a set-top box.

Recycling centres in Torridge saw a 40% increase in dumped TVs left from April to June, compared with 2008/09.

North Devon's recycling centres saw a 30% increase.

From April to June this year some 5,865 television sets have been left at Devon County Council's recycling centres in Torridge.

In the same three month period North Devon's recycling centres had 8,974 TVs left.

That compares with 13,728 for the whole of last year.

The Devon Furniture Forum has also been overwhelmed with unwanted televisions.

The organisation collects unwanted furniture and electrical goods, mending and making them safe before selling them at a discounted price to low income households.

In the past two months they've been given 200 televisions, instead of the usual 40.

Lee Menhenott said: "We have been inundated with TVs and we just can't cope with any more.

"We can't sell them fast enough and we've haven't got the space to store them."

Televisions left at the county council's recycling centres are recycled.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations mean producers of television sets have to pay for at least 75% of the TV's components to be recycled.

The TV sets left in North Devon and Torridge are transported to Sims Recycling Solution to be recycled.

Jacqui Simpson from the company said it currently recycles more than 90% of telly parts and less than five percent of the set goes to landfill.

She said: "For every tonne of recycled material that is used in manufacturing new products, around 12 tonnes of carbon emissions are prevented from being released into the atmosphere.

"However, if people really want to be green, the thing to do is get a set top and keep your telly until it no longer works."