The Plastic Bag Free Whitby Campaign, now into its 18th month, aims to make Whitby a plastic bag free town, one of nearly 100 being planned in England and Wales.

The campaign is supporting the International Bag Free Day tomorrow which aims to raise awareness across the globe.

Shoppers are being urged to refuse new plastic shopping bags, and an appeal will be made to the town's supermarkets and other traders not to hand them out.

Whitby's Co-op will be giving away free Bags For Life tomorrow in the hope that customers continue to reuse them.

Store manager Dennis Gilroy said: "We will be giving people the Bags For Life for free, the usually cost 10p.

"The hope is that customers will then use the bags next time they come.

"If their bag breaks down the line all they need to do is bring it back to the store to get a free replacement."

Demonstrations will also be held throughout the town and the Whitby Bag, made of ethically-sourced cotton and designed by Whitby Community College students, will be on sale for shoppers to show their support in a public manner.

Already over 80 local traders have signed-up to the campaign and many of them display the familiar "Be Drastic Say No To Plastic" window sticker and "Dolphin" point-of-sale sign.

Campaign leader Mark Parkin said: "When you go out shopping, bring your own bag.

"This will be the day for us ordinary folk to show we really do care for our planet."

International Plastic Bag Free Day is the brainchild of Robynne H Riley of Pa'ia, Hawaii and is supported by the Marine Conservation Society.

For more information on the campaign and a list of traders which stock the Whitby Bag click here to go to the site