A ban on single-use plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds has come into force in England. Click here to read the full story.

The measure, originally due to start in April, makes it illegal for businesses to sell or supply the items.

People in England use an estimated 4.7 billion plastic straws, 316 million plastic stirrers and 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds each year.

Environmental campaigners welcomed the ban but called for a crackdown on further single-use items. As previously reported there have been calls to encourage the use of reusable rather than single use face masks to fight the spread of corona virus.

An exemption will allow hospitals, bars and restaurants to provide plastic straws to people with disabilities or medical conditions that require them.

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