THE GROUP campaigning to make Kingsbridge a plastic bag free town have setup a window display in the Oxfam shop on Fore Street.

Helen Petit, founder of the campaign said: ‘We want to join our neighbours in Modbury who went plastic bag free more than ten years ago.

‘Plastic bags spoil the Devon countryside that we are all so proud of.

‘If we could stop using them in Kingsbridge, we would significantly improve our environment, which is so important for our wellbeing and for the local tourism industry.’

The group have been encouraged by news of the reported 85 per cent drop in the number of bags being handed out in England, since the five pence charge was introduced at the start of the year.

Their plan is now to get more independent shops in the town on board, and look to Modbury as a source of inspiration.

Some of the shops in Kingsbridge that have already pledged to go ‘plastic bag free’ are Healthwise, the Art Cafe, Oxfam, Go Mobile, Holland and Barrett, Lemon Velvet, the Christian bookshop and the Bakehouse.

Research conducted by the campaign found that, on average, more than 450 bags are given out by Kingsbridge shopkeepers every day.

The Oxfam shop hasn’t given out a plastic bag for ten years.

Volunteer, Meg Warren said: ‘We followed the Modbury example. Our previous manager Sally Denham introduced it. It’s been very successful and we recycle all the bags we are given.

‘We certainly don’t get as many plastic bags since the 5p charge was introduced.

‘People now understand what we do in Oxfam, and quite a few people bring in paper bags, so when someone asks, we can supply a bag to them.’

Irene Jeeninga from Healthwise said: ‘We have been plastic bag free for the last four years. We only give out paper bags and encourage people to bring their own bags.

‘Plastic bags end up in landfill and also on the beaches and in the ocean.’

While single-use carrier bags form a small proportion of total plastic waste, they create problems when they start to break down into smaller pieces that finish up in the water system.

Fish and other marine life ingest this plastic, and it can end up in our food chain. Bags are also light and blow away, littering hedgerows and beaches.

Helen added: ‘It’s up to the public at the end of the day. If they don’t want to see plastic bags, they should bring their bags for life out shopping with them.

‘We want everybody in the town to get involved and to talk to shopkeepers about this.’

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