A pioneering shop celebrating zero waste has opened its doors to encourage the community to follow suit.

Waste Not Want Not on South Street has been opened by Lydia Wilson, aged 23.

Lydia grew up in Buckinghamshire and studied interior architecture at university before moving to Bridport.

She said: "I've always had an interest in the environment, and want to serve the community. I live three miles from Bridport and when I moved here, it felt like I was coming home."

The shop sells organic food, all package free, including pasta, grains, lentils, herbs, spices, flour, nuts and seeds.

It will also provide refills for various everyday things like washing detergent, shampoo, conditioner, soap and toothpaste, where people can bring along their bottle and fill up.

The shop will be selling bamboo toothbrushes, which Lydia has received from a local supplier, bamboo straws, and reusable nappies.

Lydia said: "My ethos of zero waste is to refuse to buy or accept anything that includes waste products, and we should re-use and repurpose products. My personal ethos is of shopping locally and spreading your money around. I encourage people to come into the town, shop locally and keep the local economy thriving."

Waste Not Want not will be run by Lydia and her family, with mother Miriam, her brother and other family members helping out in the shop.

Lydia said: "It's a real family business, and I am very lucky to have the support of the family."

The whole shop itself has been reclaimed where possible, with the existing shelving used in the shop, old floor joints, VOC-free paint, and even the electricity is being provided by a renewable energy company.

The sign itself has been re-used, with a local sign-writing using the previous store sign for the new one.

Lydia has also been working on spreading the zero waste message from outside the shop, providing a talk at the launch of the town's Green Fortnight event, explaining the concept.

She has also launched a Facebook group called Zero Waste Bridport, a community support group of "Bridporters" to support each other, highlighting and encouraging community action.

Lydia said: "Bridport is on way to being a zero waste community.

"We hold responsibility of where waste goes and we have to be vigilant."