A controversial council newspaper is heading for the recycling bins after being classified as “junk” by the Royal Mail.

Householders in Cornwall who have asked Royal Mail not to post unaddressed junk mail through their letter boxes will not receive the county council’s new journal “Your Cornwall.”

The council has told the Western Morning News that it will be launching an investigation into the matter.

But visitors to the paper’s www.thisiscornwall.co.uk website have welcomed the Royal Mail’s move, branding the £400,000-a-year paper a waste of money.

Council leader David Whalley told the WMN: “We have a contract with Royal Mail to deliver the paper to every household and business in Cornwall. There were a number of companies who tendered for the contract and Royal Mail were selected because they came up with the lowest price and assurances they could deliver.

“We want everyone to receive a copy – I will be taking the matter up with Royal Mail as a matter of urgency.”

But a spokesman for Royal Mail said: “If some people prefer not to receive unaddressed mail through our Royal Mail Door To Door service they can choose to opt out.”

The council may now have to consider individually addressing each copy – adding thousands more to the bill.

Commenting on the story on thisiscornwall, Robert Webber, of Camborne said: “It would be better if the county council simply provided every household in Cornwall with some real toilet paper.”

Mervyn Jones, of Lostwithiel, added: “They are doing a wonderful job of spending council taxpayers’ money on self congratulatory newsletters. I can think of many things I would rather see the money spent on.”