SPECIAL bags have been made available in Bewdley to encourage more people to use the town's shops.

Opportunity Bewdley and Bewdley Chamber of Trade have commissioned the bags, which have "Bought in Bewdley" printed on them and they can be bought from most of the town's shops for a small price.

Amanda Sheehy, spokeswoman for Opportunity Bewdley, said the reusable turquoise bags had proved popular with shoppers, adding: "It has been really good so far - even better than expected.

"It is all about telling people that if they want the local shops to survive they need to support them. There are a lot of shops here and if you want to do your shopping in Bewdley you can. We wanted to promote that fact.

"There are lots of advantages to the bags as well. They are environmentally friendly and each time someone uses them people will know they shopped in Bewdley."

Bob Bromley, chairman of Bewdley Chamber of Trade, said: "The bags were bought to promote the town.

"As a chamber, we thought it was a good idea. They are selling really well and we hope that residents are going to fill them with Bewdley stock."