SHOPS in Gloucester Road have pledged to stop giving out plastic carrier bags to customers.

More than 50 businesses will phase out plastic bags later this month in favour of environmentally-friendly alternatives which can be reused and composted.

The move means shoppers will be asked to pay for compostable bags if they don't bring their own bags to carry home their shopping.

The Gloucester Road Alternative Bag Campaign (GRAB), which is made up of Bishopston and Horfield residents and traders, has spearheaded the idea of making the street plastic-bag-free.

Traders who signed up to the campaign will start their ban on Saturday, September 20. The initiative will be launched with a series of celebration events.

GRAB spokeswoman Rowan Matthiessen said research carried out by the group shows that most shoppers would be willing to pay a small fee for their bags.

"It's a phenomenal achievement that all these shops have signed up," she said.

"With more shops charging for bags, we are hoping it will reduce the number of bags being used.

"When we did our research, people didn't have a problem with paying for bags and said it would encourage them to bring their own.

"We are leaving it up to the shopkeepers to decide how much they charge and what they do with the money they receive.

"It could be used to pay the cost of the compostable bags, which are more expensive to buy. Some shops have said they would give the money to charity."

More than 200 shops between Cotham Brow junction and the Ashley Down Road junction were invited to join the campaign.

Miss Matthiessen said: "Every day we get more and more interest. We currently have a quarter of the shops signed up and these are the pioneers who really want to do it.

"There are all sorts of reasons some shops aren't getting involved. Some think their customers won't support it.

"We had trials at the Breadstore bakery and Pearce's hardware and it was amazing.

"The Breadstore normally gives out 1,000 plastic bags a week, but during the trial with paid-for compostable bags only 150 were given away in a week."

The shops that signed up to the scheme will sell reusable cloth bags, including ones with a Gloucester Road logo designed by local artists.

Jane Hunt, co-owner of Joe's Bakery in Gloucester Road, said she believes her customers would be willing to support the idea.

"It's a very good idea and an admirable campaign that's been started by the residents.

"The more shops that sign up, the more people will see it's a good thing and any opposition to it will be watered down," she said.

Miss Matthiessen, 23, who lives in Bishopston and works in environment and sustainability at Bristol City Council, said other areas of Bristol – including Knowle West, Easton, St Werburghs and Bedminster – would follow suit.