FREE plastic carrier bags are becoming a thing of the past in Sainsbury's supermarkets.

The company has announced from October 1, bags will no longer be automatically available at the checkout.

Instead any shopper who needs a throwaway bag will have to ask for one.

Sainsbury's says it is all part of the company's pledge to halve reduce carrier bag use by April next year.

It says it currently has no plans to start charging for plastic bags, but does encourage people to reuse their bags.

The company's smaller convenience stores will continue to offer bags, but these are smaller and made from 50 per cent recycled plastic.