OPENING hours at Minehead's recycling centre could be extended as part of cost-cutting plans that could see the closure of two sites in Somerset.

The proposals from the Somerset Waste Partnership to axe facilities in Coleford and Middlezoy are aimed at bridging a £711,900 funding gap in 2014/2015 and a total of just under £2.3 million over the next four years.

Minehead would be one of five sites in the county where hours could be increased - the others being Taunton Priorswood, Yeovil, Frome and Bridgwater Saltlands.

West Somerset's remaining sites - Williton and Dulverton - look to be unaffected by the changes.

Dulverton was one of four of the county's smaller sites - including Coleford and Middlezoy - earmarked for closure under previous cost-cutting measures.

All four were given a community designation in 2011 when £2 entry charges were introduced to avoid closure.

But the SWP said since then visitor numbers at Coleford and Middlezoy had declined.

If the closures go ahead an estimated 850 visitors to each of the sites would be affected - representing just under two per cent of all recycling site visits.

But SWP managing director Steve Read said an expansion of days and hours at five of the busiest sites could benefit tens of thousands of residents, as well as helping to improve recycling and cut fly-tipping further.

A decision on the proposals will be taken by the SWP board - made up of two councillors from Somerset County Council and each of the five district councillors, including West Somerset - on February 21.

The changes would be introduced from April.