Asda customers will be encouraged to bring in their own refillable containers when shopping from next year in a bid to cut down on plastic waste.

Eastern Daily Press: Asda in Yarmouth. Pic: ArchantAsda in Yarmouth. Pic: Archant

The company - which has stores in Norwich, Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Swaffham and King's Lynn, said it is to begin trialling new reusable and refillable packaging for "at least" three months in 2020.

An Asda spokesman said it could involve shoppers being able to bring in containers which can be refilled from dispensers within the store.

By the end of 2020, almost a third of Asda's own brand plastic packaging will also come from recycled materials, the supermarket said.

The measure will avoid the use of approximately 19,500 tonnes of non-recycled plastic.

Asda chief executive Roger Burnley said: "The elimination of avoidable plastic, and crucially single-use plastic, is at the top of our minds - and at the top of our customers' minds."