AN environmental campaigner inspired by a popular TV series is taking the fight to plastic straws.

Karen Myers, who lives in Wanstead, started the last straw campaign to encourage businesses to get rid of environmentally harmful products.

Inspired by the BBC1 series Blue Planet 2, Ms Myers wants to raise awareness about the pollution caused by the commonly used material.

The campaign, which involves no petitions, sees Ms Myers go to shops and talk face-to-face with owners about joining the fight against plastic.

The campaigner said the BBC series reinforced the need to act now.

Ms Myers said: “Being environmentally aware and watching Blue Planet 2 brings it into focus even more. There is information available which wasn’t available before.

“This is inspired by Blue Planet 2 – it gave me the impetus to act.

“It’s not sustainable how people go about their lives. We have to change how we live. Plastic straws are completely unnecessary.”

The campaign started just before Christmas 2017.

Now, Wanstead businesses like More Italy, Bare Brew Café and The Larder have dropped plastic straws.

The Wanstead branch of Tesco has stopped selling plastic straws while all 38 branches of Gail’s Bakery have gone plastic straw-free.

Ms Myers praised every business for their commitment. She said: “I’m just very pleased they are backing me. It’s just great for our wildlife and environment.

“It’s been an incredible effort from all the local businesses. This is a good community effort. Wanstead does have a strong sense of community.”

People who are unsure about the campaign need to think about where the plastic they throw away ends up.

Ms Myers said: “I want growing awareness on our plastic waste. I thought it would be nice to make Wanstead plastic straw free.

“Everyone should do their bit. People have got to think about where straws end up. People throw them away but where is away? It’s got to go somewhere, like a beach or a landfill.”

The UK currently discards around 8.5 billion per year plastic straws a year, the highest number of plastic straws in Europe, according to Eunomia Research and Consulting.

Paul Grant, manager of The Larder in Wanstead, said the company wants to make others think about how they dispose of plastic.

He said: “We have always had an eye on what we can do to be ethical, reduce waste and recycle. It’s something we had been considering for a long time.

“The solidarity of having the whole high street working together is a good sign.

“We want to make other people think, not just when they are here but what they can do themselves to make things better for others in the long-term.”