The number of plastic carrier bags handed out in stores was slashed by at least 650 million in the first year of Scotland’s 5p charge.

New figures released on the anniversary of its introduction indicate the levy has cut usage by around 80%, equivalent to 650 million fewer bags than in previous years.

The charge for single-use carriers has also raised around £6.7m for good causes in the past 12 months.

Announcing the figures, Scotland’s Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead hailed the 5p charge as a “major success”.

He said: “Previously statistics showed that people in Scotland used more than 800 million new single-use carrier bags every single year – more per head than anywhere else in the UK.

“I thank Scotland for embracing this policy and showing we’re serious about tackling litter, reducing waste and creating a cleaner, greener environment for everyone to enjoy.

“It’s now becoming second nature to shoppers to reuse their carrier bags and hopefully to think more about our impact on the environment.”

A reduction of 650m bags means a net saving of more than 4,000 tonnes of plastic and other materials each year.

This is the equivalent of more than 500m single-use carrier bags once it is offset by estimated increases in other forms of plastic bag, such as bags for life.

The net carbon saving is more than 2,500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually.

All retailers are being urged to sign up to Scotland’s carrier bag commitment, an agreement to disclose information on the charge and donations made.