WOMEN'S Institute members in Worcestershire are launching their latest campaign to help protect the environment.

They are encouraging everyone in the county to try and reduce their carbon footprint - the amount of carbon dioxide their activities produce - by 20 per cent, using a new tool on the internet to help with their efforts.

The Women's Institute has been running environmental campaigns since the 1920s. The latest one, called the WI Carbon Challenge, invites people to use an online calculator to measure their carbon footprint and receive tips to help them reduce their impact on the environment.

Worcestershire WI Federation chairman Chris Marriott said: "We hope WI members and consumers in Worcestershire will take up the WI Carbon Challenge to reduce their carbon footprints."

She said WI members had been very enthusiastic about environmental issues ever since the organisation made its first resolution on the environment in 1927.

"It is amazing how forward-thinking those women were," said Mrs Marriott.

Last year, the county WI took part in a national trial to see how easily a group of members could reduce their waste and fuel bills. The group, known as the eco team, had to monitor their normal habits and then find ways of cutting waste and fuel usage.

Mrs Marriott said the exercise had prompted a lot of interest within Worcestershire's WIs.

"The eco team is setting up a lot of other eco teams. There will be many more members who are going to monitor waste and electricity use and any other things they can do. We do not know how many teams there will be but people are very enthusiastic about it."

The county WI also staged a green day near Kidderminster in February with speakers, help, advice and practical tips for people to use in their own homes. The day was fully booked and the federation is now planning two more days.

To take part in the WI Carbon Challenge, log on to www.

theWI.org.uk/carbonchallenge