ECO-FRIENDLY staff at the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office in Taunton are proudly using limited edition jute bags in a bid to reduce their use of plastic carrier bags.

The re-usable bags, which have been produced in collaboration between the leading nautical chart, products and services provider and the County Gazette newspaper, were handed over to staff this week.

The bags, filled with a pen made from recycled car parts, a stapleless stapler, a thermal mug and a gift voucher, were given by UKHO Facilities Management to the 21 newly recruited Eco Wardens who are helping promote recycling and encouraging staff to adopt environmentally friendly measures.

A further ten bags were also awarded to raffle prize winners who bought tickets at an Eco Fair held at the Admiralty Way site earlier this month, which raised more than £200 for UKHO's chosen charity of the year, St Margaret's Somerset Hospice.

Anne Webb, UKHO head of facilities management, said: "We are delighted with the jute bags. They look great and perfectly advocate what we are trying to do on site with our Eco Hydro activities.

"If more people stopped using plastic bags it would have a big impact on both the marine and land environment.

The jute bags initiative also supports UKHO's Eco Hydro drive to meet Ministry of Defence sustainability targets which state all departments must become a zero waste to landfill' organisation by 2020 and recycling levels must improve by a minimum of 8% per year.