WASTE Detective Matthew Allison is on a mission to save energy.

The nine-year-old Newsome Junior School pupil is hunting out inefficiencies in his home and putting his parents on the spot.

And keen environmentalist Matthew even has a video camera to diary his week-long eco-venture.

His positive campaign to follow a Huddersfield-based family’s wasteful habits comes in the run up to Energy Saving Week which happens later this month.

Matthew will report back to his eco-bosses at the Huddersfield-based Energy Saving Trust to name and shame his parents’ worst excesses.

Matthew, who was on his school’s Eco-Committee last year, said he was enjoying being a waste detective and planned to keep nagging his mum and dad until they stopped leaving the computer and the lights on.

He said: “It’s pretty good to save energy – if you save energy you stop the world heating up.”

Mum Karen said she thought the initiative was brilliant.

“Matthew was keen on environmentalism anyway so I thought he’d like it,’’ she said.

“He’s been snooping around the house trying to find out if we’ve left the lights on.

“He also found a powerdown energy-saving device we bought and forgot to install hidden in a drawer.

“And he’s making sure we put the right things in the right recycling bags and checking that we’re doing our composting.

“We’re pretty good anyway but this is going to highlight the things we’re not doing.

“Our worst thing is not switching lights off because it’s so easy to forget. We do recycle, but this is more about saving energy.

“It’s a shame we’re the only family doing it round here as I honestly believe that things like this start with kids.

“The little things that Matthew is doing will add up.

“Nagging power will soon get parents doing it.”

Energy Saving Week is from October 19 to 25 and is in its 13th year. Each day will have a mini theme this year.

Monday will be wasteful behaviour and launch day. Tuesday will be warmer homes day. Wednesday will be smarter driving day.

Thursday will be Switch off/turn down/turn off day and Friday will be Buy better day.

The Energy Saving Trust will unveil a host of research results during Energy Saving Week ... so keep your eye out for a few home truths!

To find out what’s happening in your local area contact your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012.