MORE than 90 shops and traders in Witney have signed up to a scheme to slash the number of plastic bags handed out to shoppers.

The Bags of Life in Witney campaign, which is funded by the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership, will help fund eco-projects in Witney schools such as school vegetable patches.

Between now and the end of January, shoppers will be given a voucher every time they use their own bag or reuse an old plastic carrier.

The school which collects the most vouchers will win the eco prize.

Alison Nicholson, project co-ordinator at the Oxfordshire Town Chambers Network which is organising the event, said: “Every single shop we asked in Witney town centre said yes, including big names, independent shops and market traders.”

She added: “We hope we can save thousands of plastic bags being used unnecessarily.”