CHESTER shoppers heading over the border are being reminded to take their bags with them– or pay up.

From Saturday new regulations from the Welsh Government will come into force meaning business across Wales, such as those on Broughton Shopping Park and Morrisons in Saltney, will have to charge 5p for every single use carrier bag they hand out – or risk paying a £5,000 fine.

The fee applies to all businesses, including supermarkets, corner shops, clothing stores, pharmacies, fast food restaurants and takeaways.

Single use carrier bags made from plastic, paper or plant-based material are all included, but bags made to be reused are not.

And shoppers have backed the move saying it will benefit the environment– and should have happened sooner. Some of the money will also go to charity.

Shopper Christine Gee, from Broughton said: “They should have been doing it years ago, maybe paying for bags will encourage people to use their own. They’ve been doing it in France for years.”

Ruth Fisher, also from Broughton, said: “It’s a very good idea if the money goes to charity - anything to help the environment.

“I do recycle the bags so I don’t mind paying at all.”

Business employing 10 people or more will need to keep records of how many bags they sell, including what they do with the proceeds from the charge.

Yog Kapur, from Chester, who was shopping at Broughton Shopping Park and was aware of the charges, said: “I suppose we have to look after the environment, so I’m quite happy to pay.

“It’s another good thing from an environmental point of view.”