Both retailers and customers will face a price hike after European Union (EU) member states voted to charge an import duty of 15% on plastic carrier, bin and nappy bags from China and Thailand. The levy will start in September and last for five years.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) called the move "a nonsense".

Director general Dr Kevin Hawkins said:

"The cost it will impose on retailers is immense, the benefits to the environment and domestic manufacturers non-existent and the entire decision-making process behind its adoption highly questionable."