THE campaign to make Hay-on- Wye the first carrier bag free town in Wales is gathering pace as organisers prepare to launch the initiative on Saturday.

A massive 90% of traders audited by Catherine Carleton-Smith and Susannah Garland pledged their commitment to stop using plastic bags in shops throughout the town.

The pair will put theory into action from Saturday by promoting specially ordered Hay cotton bags and cornstarch Biobags at the Hay Festival Winter Weekend.

Anti-plastic campaigner Rebecca Hoskings' film Message in the Waves, which helped two English towns make the switch, will also be shown to highlight the effects plastic production has had on world wildlife.

"To qualify as a supporter of the campaign the retailer will have committed to switch to an alternative to plastic bags once their current supply is finished or will already be supplying paper or environmentally friendly alternatives," Catherine said.

"We are delighted that both the Spar and Londis are coming on board, along with the majority of key shops in the town."

Volunteers are also distributing 1,000 Fairtrade cotton bags donated by the Co-operative store which will also sell Biobags but has as yet declined to forego plastic altogether.

Manager Gary Thompson said: "While all our plastic bags are fully degradable, we are taking steps to reduce the number we use and in support of local efforts to go plastic free, we are giving each household in the town a Fairtrade cotton bag."

Support has also been forthcoming through a £1,000 grant from the Sustainable Development Fund and the introduction by the council of extra plastic bag recycling points.

Red wheelie bins by the clock tower and in the market square are now available for retailers and residents to dump their carriers and go plastic free too.

More information on the scheme is available at www.theendofplasticbags.co.uk