It is well known that children are often more interested in the cardboard box than the toy that comes in it.

So when one Newtownabbey mum discovered a range of eco-friendly cardboard toys made from recycled material, she was convinced they would be a hit with children in Northern Ireland.

Carol Magill’s website Baby Bill is offering toys made from 100% recycled cardboard. The toys, made from 80% of recycled materials, feature kid-sized space rockets, playhouses, toy castle, castle turrets to climb into and an igloo to hide in — and have already proved a success with Carol’s son William.

She set up the website after finding it difficult to source innovative baby and toddler items locally.

“Like all parents I face the challenge of keeping a youngster amused during the summer, and would often spend money on toys to help keep him interested. But like most parents I was dismayed at the amount of packaging and plastic that most high street shop toys contain,” Carol said.

“I am conscious that most plastic that toys are made from cannot be recycled and once the child gets bored or breaks the toy it could spend up to 100 years in landfill.

The UK produces nearly three million tonnes of plastic a year and it is believed it can take hundreds of years to break down in landfill.

Carol said she’s pleased that once William grows out of the toys, she will be able to recycle the whole package without guilt.

“The eco toys are also very interactive, as if you build them in their original cardboard state you can have great fun with your child painting and decorating and making their space rocket exclusive to them,” she said.

The toy range is available at www.babybill.co.uk, with prices beginning at £20 for a castle turret in original cardboard and going up to £40 for a silver space rocket.