Councillor Marjoram hopes traders will opt for reusable bags

Stroud Mayor John Marjoram hopes local shopkeepers will follow the example of Modbury in Devon where all 43 traders signed up to the scheme.

It followed a campaign by a BBC wildlife camerawoman who captured horrific images of marine life choking on plastic bags in Hawaii.

Green councillor Marjoram said he would urge traders to opt for reusable bags.

'Killing wildlife'

"What we really need is a cultural shift away from the throwaway society," he said.

"About 1m seabirds choke or get tangled in plastic nets and other debris every year.

"This [plastic bag] has got a shelf life of 12 minutes and then it's thrown away. But you could actually make it last for 10 years.

"This is killing wildlife, but once people are aware of the significance of their plastic bags, they'll start being much more conscious about whether to use them."

Camerawoman Rebecca Hosking, who began the Modbury campaign, said: "The way we did it here was to work as a community.

"I started with friends first, traders I knew. I gave them facts and figures, I started talking to them, showing them the film and giving them the facts.

"Once I got a certain amount of traders' support, I organised an evening."

Modbury's traders and shopkeepers are now using large reusable cotton and jute bags, smaller 100% biodegradable cornstarch bags and recyclable paper bags.