SHOPPERS could be charged up to 20p for plastic carrier bags at checkouts in Wales.

The Assembly will next week launch a three-month consultation looking into ways of introducing a charge of between 10 and 20p.

It is predicted the move would raise between £6.48m and £12.96m, which would be used to fund environmental projects.

Around 648 million plastic bags are used in Wales each year, almost all of which are distributed free of charge.

When the idea was first revealed in the Argus some months ago, many readers said they would not be happy paying an extra tax for the bags.