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Thailand is censoring images of plastic bags on TV in a bid to stop people using them.

As well as forbidding the bags from being given away by "major shops" the country is also stopping them being seen by TV viewers too.

Images of such bags are now muzzed out in the same way violent or graphic images would be censored in a news report.

The move comes as the south-east Asian country begins a 20-year action plan to stop pollution of its seas.

It also aims to stop the use of microbeads in cosmetics and is set to ban plastic straws and cups.

So far 75 major retailers across the country have stopped giving out single-use plastic bags, across 25,000 shops.

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

As in the UK, Thais are being encouraged to bring their reusable bags with them when they go shopping.

Varawut Silpa-Archa, minister of natural resources and environment in Thailand, was out in the capital Bangkok giving away cloth bags to members of the public on New Year's Day.

He said: "Thailand was ranked sixth among the world's top countries that dumps waste into the sea".

"During the past five months, we were down to 10th, thanks to the cooperation of the Thai people."

(Image: Facebook)

The move comes after a turning point last summer when the death of a dugong, which was found to have pieces of plastic in its digestive system.

The orphaned dugong - a sea mammal - named Miriam was taken to the hearts of many Thais after it was found alone without its parents.

Miriam's life was followed by thousands on Facebook but vets later posted that she was killed by pollution.

Nantarika Chansue, said on Facebook: "Many pieces of small plastic clogged her intestines and caused inflammation, leading to blood infection and inflamed lungs.

"Everyone is saddened by this loss, but it reiterates that we need to save the environment to save these rare sea animals."