MEMBERS of the Turn Lyme Green community group are renewing their initiative to reduce the number of plastic bags used in Lyme Regis.

Organisers are hoping to see traders provide only biodegradable, paper or other alternative bags, and reduce the number of disposable bags by up to 85 per cent, the same figure they reached the last time the campaign was launched in 2008.

It has already gained the support of most of the retailers on Broad Street, including the Co-operative food store and Lyme Bay Holidays, who will be providing reusable cloth bags in each of their premises.

Ann Boothroyd, a member of Turn Lyme Green who is co-ordinating the campaign with Guy Ottewell, said: “We have always wanted to refresh this idea as it was hugely successful last time, but people may have forgotten about it over the years.

“We have received great support from all the traders and retailers, and we are hoping tourists will use the bags provided by Lyme Bay Holidays, as that will really make a big difference.

“Hopefully, it will start to become routine for people to pick up their reusable bags when they leave the house to go shopping.”

On Monday, August 19, the Co-operative Food Store, which already sell Bags for life, will be giving away £20 worth of reusable bags to customers.

Team leader Cat Davies said: “We do like to support local campaigns and think this is a great one, and there is currently a company-wide scheme to drive the reusable bags to help the environment.”

Worldwide, around one million plastic bags are thrown away every minute and, because they do not naturally degrade, they cause a huge amount of litter and are very dangerous to animals and wildlife in the seas.

Mrs Boothroyd added: “We are really concerned about the damage the plastic bags cause to the sea and wildlife such as seagulls and fishes. We want to protect the environment, and know that Lyme’s beauty will be all the greater as it becomes a cleaner and litter free town.”

For further information on the campaign visit turnlymegreen.co.uk, or visit the tourist information centre where special Turn Lyme Green cloth bags are also available.