Recycled paper made up 63.5 per cent of the raw material used for newspaper in the UK last year.

Figures published by the Newspaper Society show the figure is a significant increase on the 2000 figure of 60.3 per cent.

The industry agreed targets of using 60 per cent recycled material by the end of last year.

It was met ahead of schedule but must be improved if the next target of 65 per cent by 2003 is to be met.

The performance is monitored by the Department of the Environment.