5 ways to reuse plastic milk bottles

When I filled up my bird feeders, seeds kept going everywhere. I washed out an old milk carton and cut it in half, before placing the top half on to the bird feeder. It made a perfect funnel to top up the bird food without creating a mess. Mary Jamieson, Newcastle upon Tyne

My two daughters Arabella, four, and Florence, one, wanted to help me plant some seeds, but we didn't have any trowels. Instead I decided to wash out two milk bottles. I then put the lids on and cut them in half below the handle. They worked well as makeshift mini-shovels, and we could recycle the milk bottles afterwards. Sam Bateman, Grimsby, Lincs

We were painting our garden fence, but my son Jack was tired of having to bend down to reach the paint pot. He cut a plastic milk carton in half, just below the handle. Then he screwed the lid on and half-filled the carton with paint. Now, he can carry the paint with him as he goes. Stella Whalley, Longridge, Lancs

My watering can had broken, so I decided to make a new one. I took an empty milk bottle, then I unscrewed the lid and made small holes in the top. I filled the bottle with water and screwed the lid back into place. It made the perfect makeshift watering can, and it didn't cost a penny! Deborah Johnston, Stevenage, Herts

The end of my watering can had broken. To create a new sprinkler, I washed out a plastic milk carton, then punched holes in the bottom with a drawing pin. Finally, I screwed the top of the carton on to the spout of the watering can. Now, I've got a working watering can without splashing out on a new one. Mark Shingfield, Bridgwater, Somerset