An ambitious campaign has been launched to rid the County Town of plastic bags.

Maidstone Town Centre Management is fronting the Bin the Bag campaign, in the hope that Maidstone will be the first town in Kent to become plastic bag free by March 31.

Town centre manager Bill Moss said: “Most people will agree we need to do something to reduce the use of plastic bags, so town centre management has taken the lead with an ambitious plan to Bin the (plastic) Bag.

“We are asking all town centre retailers to find an alternative to plastic bags and we will be giving away 10,000 bags to independent shops to kick-start the campaign.

“But we can’t hope to succeed without the cooperation of shoppers who should begin to question why they are being offered a plastic bag in Maidstone after March 31.

“While the independent shops will make their own decision whether to continue with plastic bags after March 31, the nationals will be guided by their head offices and I’m confident people-power will eventually win through.

“With the support of shoppers we will succeed in our campaign to Bin the Bag in Maidstone.”

Between now and the end of March there will be a concerted effort to raise awareness of the campaign with petitions, exhibitions about how damaging plastic bags are to our environment, and ambassadors who will back the ban in Maidstone.

Local law firm Brachers has sponsored an information pack which will be sent out to all stores in the town, offering them a sample paper bag and details of why they should stop using plastic bags.