Nine finalists from Recycle for Norfolk's Fashion Design Challenge put plastic on the catwalk at the weekend to highlight the importance of recycling.

Visitors to the One Planet Norwich Festival at The Forum on Saturday got three chances to see the stunning designs, which were created using a polyester fabric made from PET recycled bottles.

The fashion shows were part of Recycle for Norfolk's Putting Plastic on the Catwalk campaign, supported by the charity RECOUP, which aims to show the many uses plastic can be put to when it is recycled.

The garments, which included jumpsuits and dresses, were all designed and created by fashion students living in or studying in Norfolk.

Finalist Emily Bridges, of Norwich, said: 'When I got the call to say my design had been selected, I was over the moon. I am passionate about good fashion design and the environment, so this is a great opportunity to showcase plastic recycling and fashion together.'

John Fisher, chairman of the Norfolk Waste Partnership, said: 'Recycle for Norfolk is delighted to be working with RECOUP to highlight the issue of how to do plastic recycling well. In Norfolk, householders can recycle a wide variety of plastic packaging as long as it's clean, dry and loose.

'In fact, the only parts of plastic packaging we don't want for recycling is shrink wrap, bubble wrap, absorbent layers and shrink wrap.'

The event, which has been followed by a plastics roadshow in market towns across the county, was sponsored by Marks and Spencer, RPC Group plc, RECOUP and the Norfolk Waste Partnership.

Stuart Foster, chief executive of RECOUP, said: 'RECOUP's mission is to explain to people how easy it is to recycle plastic containers so they never become a blight on the natural environment.

'It's important people know what happens to their plastic and that it's made into new bottles, trays and cartons, or indeed other items such as fabric.'

Recycle for Norfolk's plastic recycling roadshow is happening until June 28, visiting town centres across the county to showcase which plastic packaging can be recycled.

Plastic recycling experts from RECOUP will be available to answer questions and there will be hands-on displays and a giant plastic recycled sculpture, created by Norfolk-based environmental artist, Karen Whiterod.

Roadshow dates are:

• South Norfolk – Mere's Mouth, Diss – June 14, 10am-3pm

• Great Yarmouth – Market Place – June 27, 10am-3pm

• King's Lynn and West Norfolk – June 28, 10am-3pm

For more information about the Norfolk Waste Partnership and what can and cannot be recycled in Norfolk, visit www.recyclefornorfolk.com