VALE Royal Borough Council is handing out reusable bags at roadshows across the borough.

The council wants shoppers to use the lightweight bags – which come with handy pocket-size pouches to stow them in – to help put an end to the vast numbers of plastic carrier bags being thrown away.

The roadshow takes place in Frodsham Market from 9am-1pm on Thursday, November 27.

Cllr Lynn Riley, lead councillor for environmental management, said: “We will be encouraging people to exchange their plastic carrier bags in favour of the black and green bags, and at the same time they will be asked to complete a simple pledge stating they will minimise waste by reusing it.

“It is a simple step that everyone can take to help our environment.”

As an added incentive, if you are spotted using your new reusable bag in Winsford, Frodsham or Northwich between December 1 and 5 , you could be the lucky winner of supermarket shopping vouchers.

The roadshows are part of the council’s waste minimisation initiative, which includes a campaign to get people signed up to the Mailing Preference Service (MPS), a service for anyone who wants to be removed from most mailing lists in the UK.