A BID to make Deal the first town in Kent to Ban the Bag will be launched this month.

Retailers are being invited to a meeting this month to back the campaign to eliminate plastic bags in favour of more environmentally friendly alternatives,

School children have already shown their commitment to raise awareness through their art work, and members of the environmental group Deal With It have opened an exhibition at Deal Library to boost interest.

Long-time green supporter Caro Wilkinson said: “In the UK we use eight billion plastic shopping bags annually.

“This shocking figure prompted Deal With It to campaign to try and make Deal the first plastic bag free town in Kent.

“Until February 15 there is an exhibition in Deal Library which aims to raise awareness of the colossal damage caused to the environment by plastic bags.

“There are also photos of distressed animals and birds which have been caught up in plastic bags, of plastic litter problems in Deal, and suggestions as to how we can begin together to tackle the problem and find environmentally friendly and longer-lasting alternatives.

“We are confident that our community – both traders and shoppers – will support this simple first step towards creating a better environment for us all to enjoy.”

Ban the Bag campaigners will meet Deal traders at 7pm on Wednesday, February 27, at St George’s Hall, High Street, when a decision will be made about how to take the campaign forward.

Last year Modbury, in Devon, became the first British town to effectively outlaw the plastic bag, with all traders agreeing to use environmentally friendly alternatives.

Rosie Rechter, also from Deal With It, said: “We must get our message across so people understand the horrendous scale of damage that plastic bags create globally.”

For more information about Ban the Bag e-mail normanrosierechter@hotmail.co.uk