A March church has banned people from using plastic cutlery and plates when they hire its hall for parties and events.

The parish has taken the decision as pressure grows globally to stop the amount of disposable plastic products ending up in landfill and oceans.

Friar Paul Maddison, parish priest, said church goers at Our Lady of Good Counsel in St John’s Road took the decision at a meeting about their newly-refurbished parish hall.

He said: “At a recent parish open meeting a discussion took place around the subject of plastic waste and how we as a parish community could contribute to the debate.

“It was felt that, since there is a large quantity of cutlery, crockery and glasses in the kitchen, people who hire the hall should not be using disposable items and then sending their waste to landfill.

“Our terms and conditions of hire will now be amended to reflect this decision.

“We also decided to challenge any of our suppliers using large quantities of plastic packaging to send their products and, if they fail to respond, to change to alternative providers.”