The town's Plastic Bag Reduction Group is organising a plastic bag-free week between Monday, January 19, and Saturday, January 24, when it is hoped shoppers will either re-use old bags or buy re-useable ones.

The group was formed last year and since then has held a number of meetings to discuss ways in which to reduce the number of bags being given to shoppers.

A meeting was also held with traders from the town to show them the effects that carrier bags have on the environment and how they can go about ordering alternative types of bag.

During the week, traders will be provided with shop window posters and reminders at the till.

Dr Elaine Carter, chairman of the reduction group, said surveys had already shown that there was strong support from shoppers and retailers to reduce the number of plastic bags being handed out.

She added: "We hope that during the week of the campaign, people in the town will make a special effort to remember to take bags with them when they go shopping so that they don't need a bag at the checkout.

"We can all help the environment by cutting back on bag usage which uses valuable resources and causes pollution around the world and damages wildlife habitats."

The Plastic Bag Reduction Group has several members who meet on a regular basis.

To help shoppers even further members of the group will be in Lutterworth town centre on the final day of the Carrier Bag Free Week, Saturday, January 24, handing out free re-useable bags in the town.

For more details about the campaign, and to see where you can order some of the alternative types of bag, follow the relevant links at lutterworth.leicestershireparishcouncils.org.