SOUTHAMPTON'S John Lewis store is one of only two in the UK trialing a brand new scheme to cut the use of carrier bags.

The department store is placing recycling bins for old carrier bags at the entrances to its WestQuay shop Mark Venables, managing director of John Lewis Southampton, said: "I hope that our customers in Southampton will make use of these recycling points, so we can help make a difference. Also, if the recycling points are popular at our branch and Sheffield, who are also trialing the recycling scheme, the John Lewis Partnership will be rolling them out to all 26 branches."