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Is March 31, 2009 about to become known as the date Maidstone took a huge step to save the planet?

On Tuesday the County Town launched its bid to become plastic bag free.

Shoppers carrying plastic bags were stopped in the busiest part of town, starting from 12.30pm, at the top of Earl Street.

The Maidstone Bag Lady - artist Clare Foreman - who wears a dress made out of hundreds of carrier bags was on hand to speak to shoppers.

They were invited to trade their environmentally unfriendly plastic for a re-usable paper bag.

Maidstone Town Centre Management (TCM) and Brachers Law, who support Bin the Bag, have teamed up with Countrystyle, who will take all the traded-in plastic bags for recycling.

Other stores, including Boots and McDonalds, have also agreed to offer the paper bags and TCM has given away 8,500 of them.

The organisation has also produced an eco bag made out of jute, which many independent traders have been selling for the last year.

Bill Moss, town centre manager, said: "We know we will never eradicate plastic bags in Maidstone.

"But from today, I expect shoppers to question when they are offered a plastic carrier in stores. Some store staff already check with customers whether they really need plastic.

"We believe we can save at least 400,000 plastic bags a year from Maidstone being sent to landfill."