MAKE sure you don't get caught out this Christmas and keep up with the changes to council services over the festive period into the New Year.

Anyone with problems or queries over Christmas can call the Vale Council's Contact One centre. The centre will be closed to all non emergency calls on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

The Vale Council's Civic Offices, Dock Offices and Provincial House will also be closed on these days.

At Christmas we all have extra waste and the council will be striving to help you recycle as much as possible.

The Vale's recycling kerbside collection service can take your food waste, from your turkey carcass to your veg peelings which can all be turned to compost.

Your Christmas wrapping paper can be recycled in your blue bag or green box. Anyone recycling wrapping paper is asked to remove any traces of sticky tape, and not to include any glittery or shiny metallic paper.

Christmas cards can also be placed in your blue bag or green box but sticky tape, bows, glitter or tinsel must be removed.

Changes to collection dates are as follows: If your normal collection would be on Thursday, December 25 it will now be on Saturday, December 27; Friday, December 26 now moves to Sunday, December 28; Thursday, January 1 to Friday, January 2; and Friday January 2 to Saturday, January 3.

If you have a real Christmas tree the Vale council will collect it from the kerbside on your normal recycling collection day from Monday, January 12 to Friday, January 16.

Only real trees will be collected, without any decorations and put out for collection by 7am.

More information on library and leisure centre opening hours and public transport changes can be found at www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk