A WIMBORNE group wants to reduce or remove the amount of plastic bags being handed out in the town.

Members of Reduce The Use will launch their campaign on Tuesday (November 27) with a screening of the BBC film Messages In The Waves, about campaigner Rebecca Hosking, who led the campaign to turn Modbury in Devon, plastic bag free.

They will also hand out long-life cotton bags at the launch.

Doors will open at 5.45pm and the free screening at the Tivoli Theatre will start at 6pm.

District councillor Pat Hymers was inspired after reading an item on Modbury in the national press and raised the issue at a Wimborne Town Council meeting.

Mrs Hymers said: "I thought if they can do it, we can do it."

She inspired town councillor Boo Feltham and Mrs Feltham and others set up Reduce The Use, which has been given support from the town council and Wimborne and District Chamber of Trade.

They now want the public to back their campaign to reduce the amount of plastic bags being used, by bringing their own bags when they shop.

Options instead of plastic bags include paper bags, corn starch bags, jute bags and cotton re-usable bags, many of which are on sale in the town.

Mrs Feltham said: "The emphasis is to appeal to the public and say Please, buy a cotton shopping bag and bring it with you'.

"We are following that on Saturday December 1 in town in the afternoon when we will be setting up a stall for information about the campaign and if we have bags we will give bags to people who pledge their support to the campaign.

"East Dorset District Council are working with us to produce information leaflets. The Chamber of Trade have said they will support our campaign.

She added: "I do not want this to be something the traders do solely."

A letter is going out to traders individually to explain what the group is trying to do and to ask them for their support when supplying bags for customers.