McDonald's have announced that they will replace plastic straws with paper ones in all its UK and Ireland restaurants.

It is the latest company to opt out of some single-use plastic products which can take hundreds of years to decompose if not recycled.

McDonald's uses 1.8 million straws a day in the UK.

"Reflecting the broader public debate, our customers told us they wanted to see a move on straws," the firm commented.

The decision follows a successful trial in selected restaurants earlier this year. The move to paper straws will be completed next year, starting in September of 2018.