Town launches its reusable bags

An environmental group in Cornwall plans to turn used plastic bags into a community bench in an attempt to eradicate their use in one town.

Saltash Environmental Action (SEA) is encouraging shoppers to invest in new re-usable bags instead.

The group hopes to follow in the footsteps of Modbury in Devon which banned plastic bags in May.

Shoppers are being asked to bring used bags to an exhibition at the Guildhall on Saturday.

They will then be reprocessed and made into a bench.

Limited edition Saltash cotton bags, commissioned especially for the group, will be on sale at the event.

Mayor of Saltash, Bob Austin, a founder member of SEA, said: "We are very proud of our Saltash bags.

"They're attractive and because they are cotton, you can stuff them in a pocket for convenience."