THE Great Malvern Eco Bag was launched this week to give shoppers a helping hand with their shopping and their efforts to be greener.

The re-usable shopping bag, 100% organic cotton, costs £3.50 and is on sale in lots of local shops. It has been produced by the Great Malvern Association of Traders, GMAT, and has been designed to help shoppers use fewer throw-away carrier bags.

Chairman of GMAT Robin Elt said: ”GMAT felt that shoppers are currently looking to avoid wasting materials and gathering countless bags while out shopping. So we have produced an ethical bag with a slogan promoting Great Malvern, that is big enough to use, light enough to carry around and something that Malvern shoppers can be proud of.”

The bags will be available all around Malvern in Bahoo, Belle Vue Delicatessen, Burley’s Hairdressers, The Centre For Well Being, Iatatus Gallery,The Knitting Parlour, Lyttelton Well, Richamond House Antiques and Riding High.

Mr Elts said: “We hope Malvern shoppers go out and buy the bags but also use them, to not only carry their shopping in an ecological way but promote our town.”

He added that residents of Great Malvern knew about the town’s “fabulous shops, boutiques and food outlets” and the “inspirational products on offer” and the bags could inspire others to come and visit the town.