CUSTOMERS at a Kent supermarket are to be offered free reusable bags this weekend as the store tries to cut down on the numbers of plastic carrier bags it hands out.

Sainsbury's has seen the use of free disposable bags fall by 10 per cent in the last six months compared to last year, and the use of re-usable bags soar by nearly 50 per cent.

The Hempstead Valley branch will be removing free, disposable bags from check-outs tomorrow and Sunday and instead offer free re-usable Bags for Life.

Store manager Elliot Pilcher said: "This is a positive and significant shift in the right direction. We will provide the bags for free but need customers to re-use them to really make the difference.

"Working together, these small and easy changes today can make real and lasting differences on major environmental issues."