The council voted overwhelmingly to be a plastic bag-free city

"We would like to see every retailer ceasing to use plastic bags, and shoppers buying reusable cotton bags," said councillor Gill Mitchell.

"Shoppers are becoming more and more environmentally aware and it is up to the traders to take a lead."

Traders in North Laine are already selling specially designed cotton bags.

They were chosen from designs put forward by three local artists and went on sale on Wednesday.

We just want to be rid of them [plastic bags] and we think the public mood is behind us Councillor Gill Mitchell

Ms Mitchell said councillors, who voted overwhelmingly in favour of the policy on Thursday night, wanted the North Laine example to be copied throughout the city.

"We have estimated there are in excess of 33 million plastic bags given out in the city every year," she said.

"We are paying for them every time we shop and the bags do despoil the environment.

"They blow around everywhere and get caught on lampposts and so on.

"We just want to be rid of them and we think the public mood is behind us."

The council is also going to write to the government asking it to impose a 20p levy on every plastic bag used.