OTLEY is to become a Refill town.

Town councillors voted unanimously this week to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the City to Sea organisation behind the national Refill campaign.

The initiative aims to combat the rise in plastic waste by encouraging businesses and communities to provide free 'refill stations' where people can fill their bottles with tap water.

Otley Town Council will be encouraging local businesses to participate and publicise their involvement by showing Refill stickers and posting details on the campaign's app.

Council Chair Councillor Ray Georgeson (Lib Dem, Danefield) said: "This is a simple and effective way of encouraging folk to reduce their consumption of single-use plastic bottles of water, and their use of plastic, by easily refilling a bottle.

"We are pleased to support City to Sea and develop our Refill Otley scheme to do our bit to further reduce the impact of plastic pollution in our waters and oceans.

"The council will also follow up our successful coffee cups scheme, #MyOtleyCup, with a range of #MyOtleyRefill branded water bottles which will be available in the coming weeks.

"We will arrange a signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with City to Sea, and a launch of the Refill scheme, later in the autumn."