MORE than 50 businesses in Worcester, including Paradiddles and King Charles house have signed up to an initiative which allows people to fill up reusable water bottles for free.

Businesses, including restaurants, cafes and coffee shops, signed up earlier this week to the Refill Scheme, which has been rolled out across Worcester by water company Severn Trent and founding organisation, City to Sea.

The Refill Scheme, supported by Worcester City Council and community volunteering group Transition Worcester, aims to promote free tap water, helping to keep people hydrated, as well as bringing environmental benefits by reducing the use of plastic bottles.

Severn Trent’s Jess Fidler, said: “It was great to see so many businesses signing up to be part of Refill in Worcester.

“Our action day was a tremendous success and to sign up over 50 local businesses was fantastic. Everyone showed a real interest in the campaign.

“Businesses which signed up are now proudly displaying their Refill window stickers and are also appearing on the Refill app where people can find any Refill Station in Worcester or across the UK.”

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Councillor Joy Squires, chairman of Worcester City Council’s Environment Committee, said: “I was delighted to help sign up local businesses to the Water Refill scheme and was very impressed with the enthusiasm for the scheme. There is a real determination in Worcester to reduce the use of plastics and the Refill scheme will go a long way to help with that.”

Councillor Louis Stephens at Worcester City Council said: “I’m very pleased to support this great initiative. Refilling a bottle saves masses of energy and cuts down on plastic pollution. But I’m especially keen to see the smaller independent cafes, restaurants and pubs join the scheme – this is a great way to get new customers into their premises.”

Crumpets and Coffee Lounge, a café based in Angel Place in the city centre, has also signed up.

Owner Marc James added: “This is such a great opportunity for us to play our part in the fight against plastic pollution, as well as offering what frankly should be a basic human right – free and clean drinking water.”

Other businesses signed up to the campaign are: Our taste of Portugal, Time to eat, Black and White, Quinns, Dutty vegan, Pappas café, House of coffee, Nest café, The cloisters café, Coffee warehouse, Ping an, Chocolate deli, Rods café, Saffron bistro, The old greyhound. Cathedral café, Worcester cathedral, Saffron bistro, The conservatory, The zen shed, Pack it in, Steam coffee shop, Panama jacks, Pump House, Coffee 45, Lamb and Flag Inn, Kings head, Hanger café, Plough and harrow, Paradiddles, Browns at the Quay, Elgars, The Cricketers, Baguette World, Café rouge, Boston Tea Party and Waylands Yard.

The Refill app can be downloaded for free on Google Play or the App Store. More information is available by emailing refill@severntrent.co.uk