TESCO has come up with an unexpected item in the bagging area — money for green causes.

The supermarket chain is offering grants of up to £12,000 to local groups to improve green spaces, with the projects nominated and voted on by the public and all funded by the Government’s new 5p carrier bag levy.

Manager of Tesco Callington Martin Hawkins said: ‘We wanted to devote the money raised through the bag charging to green projects — and what could be greener than having the public decide which local areas should benefit?’

Throughout November the public will be able to nominate their favourite local green projects for funding. The types of projects that are expected to get the green light include new pocket parks, sports facilities, woodland walks and community gardens. Six projects will receive funding in each of 428 regions annually, which means that around 2,500 different projects will receive funding from the bag charge after just one year. To nominate a project or to apply, visit www.tesco.com/carrier-bags