CALLS have been made for Hyndburn Council to stop using plastic cups at meetings after the authority announced plans to declare a ‘climate emergency’.

On Thursday night, the full council backed a motion for chiefs to try to make the authority's activities net-zero carbon by 2030.

Another proposal from Cllr Sara Britcliffe was also approved to look at ways in which wildflower habitats can be planted on roadside verges, roundabouts and disused land in the borough.

Cllr Britcliffe said: “The council was very positive about the idea as, since the 1930s, we have lost 97 per cent of wildflower areas and we need to help our insects.

“With the council agreeing the climate emergency, I think there is an immediate thing we can do ­— get rid of plastic cups and use glasses at meetings. LCC did it in 2018 so why are we waiting?”

Council leader Cllr Miles Parkinson said: “This was one of many items attached to the climate emergency motion. We have a committee who are looking into how the council does things.”