Funds raised from so-called bags for life will continue to benefit good causes

A major supermarket chain is set to scrap basic carrier bags.

Tesco has said it will stop the sale of 5p carrier bags across the UK by the end of the month.

Shoppers will instead be offered a bag for life, which are sold for 10p, in a bid to cut the amount of bags that shoppers use.

The decision follows a 10-week trial at stores in Aberdeen, Dundee and Norwich, which resulted in a 25% cut in bag sales.

Charges for plastic bags have been in place in the UK since October 2015, with charities and local organisations continuing to benefit from the sale of carrier bags by Tesco.

Matt Davies, UK and Irish Republic chief executive at Tesco, said: "The number of bags being bought by our customers has already reduced dramatically.

“This move will help our customers use even fewer bags but ensure that those sold in our stores continue to fund thousands of community projects across the country chosen by customers."

The sale of carrier bags has resulted in £33 million being donated to more than 6,400 groups in the UK.

Louise Edge, senior campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said: "It is great to see major retailers moving away from disposable plastic.

“For too long we've seen plastic as something to be used once and thrown away. But there is no such place as away – and millions of tonnes of plastic are ending up in our rivers, beaches, streets and in the sea every year, harming marine life.”