SHOPPERS visiting a store at York’s McArthurGlen Designer Outlet are being invited to donate 5 pence for every plastic bag they need - with the coins going to charity.

The ProCook store is asking customers to put the money into a collection box for St Leonard’s Hospice for every ordinary carriers, while the store will donate 50 pence for every ‘bag for life’ sold in store.

Emma Downes, York store manager, said: "My colleagues and I discussed which charity to support and we all decided that St Leonard’s was the one, as we knew people who have been cared for there. And our customers are happy to support the hospice – many of them have known patients there."

Sue Edwards, of the hospice fundraising team, said: "This is a great – and very simple – way that stores can raise funds to help St Leonard’s care for local people and their families. We are very grateful to Emma and her colleagues at ProCook; we should like to encourage other stores to take up the idea – please call me on 01904 77 77 77 for more information."