McDonald's is replacing plastic straws with paper ones across all its UK and Ireland restaurants after a successful trial.

A roll-out of paper straws in all 1,361 restaurants will begin from September, with the process to be completed next year.

The move comes as pressure grows on companies to reduce single-use plastic products and packaging, amid concerns over plastic pollution in the oceans where items such as straws end up harming wildlife like turtles and fish.

It comes after the government has unveiled plans that could see plastic straws, drinks stirrers and cotton buds banned from sale in England as part of efforts to cut the amount of waste which ends up rivers and oceans.

McDonald's said it had found two suppliers to meet its needs for paper straws, the start-up Transcend Packaging based in Wales, and Huhtamaki, a global company which will produce the straws at its plant in Belfast.

The restaurant chain has conducted a trial of the paper replacements at a handful of venues since April, and found customers reacted positively to the change, with the majority supporting the effort to protect the environment.

McDonald's has already taken steps in all its restaurants in the UK and Ireland to put plastic straws behind the counter to reduce waste.

The new straws will use paper coming from certified sustainable sources, the company said.

Chris Truscott, owner of McDonalds in Weymouth town centre, said: “We have been looking at this on a national level for many months and this is the latest in a round of initiatives.

"It's another step towards community engagement offering the best possible service we can."

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