A Chislehurst pub is going to stop giving out plastic straws and stirrers in a bid to help save the environment.

The Bickley Pub and Steak House on Chislehurst Road is a part of Redcomb Pubs and is owned by Dan Shotton and Mark Draper.

As of this month the pub chain will not be buying any more plastic straws and stirrers. They will be providing biodegradable straws for those people who need to use them.

Managing director of Redcomb Pubs Dan Shotton said: “Our pubs use thousands of straws and plastic stirrers each year, and by removing them from our business we will be positively contributing to the worldwide efforts to help reduce plastic waste and it’s negative impact on our coastlines, marine life and oceans.

“All too often straws and stirrers are added to drinks without customers even asking for them.

“This simple act has devastating implications for up to 200 years, the time it takes for plastic straws and stirrers to biodegrade - a far cry from the relatively short time it takes for you to finish your drink.

“Whilst we will be purchasing biodegradable alternatives for our customers that genuinely need a straw, our actions and those taken by other bars and restaurants will hopefully go a long way to help raise awareness and encourage more customers and businesses to get behind the ‘no straws’ campaign.”

Eight million tonnes of plastic waste leak into the world’s oceans each year, killing more than one million seabirds and a hundred thousand marine mammals.

Studies estimate that unless there is a significant shift in the amount of plastic that we throw away then plastic refuse in our oceans is set to outweigh fish by 2050.