CAMPAIGNERS have been urging coffee lovers to take their own reusable cup with them after claiming Starbucks' well-known red Christmas cups take 50 years to biodegrade.

The group of 'craftivists', or craft activists, knitted outside the coffee shop in Golden Square during a peaceful protest last week to spread their message.

Linsey Williams, owner of Dolly's Haberdashery and Sewing School in the town centre, said: "The world has lost it's mind over these Christmas red cups they provide for takeaway but they take 50 years to biodegrade.

"We are not saying 'Don't go to Starbucks', it's quite the opposite.

"Go, enjoy your coffee, but take your own reusable cup.

"Starbucks and Costa will fill your clean cup happily."

The shop will be hosting a climate change craft exhibition between November 30 and December 11 at the same time the world's biggest conference on global warming is set to be held in Paris.

An open evening takes place on November 27 with the chance for residents to display and sell their work with fizz and and nibbles on offer too.

Entrance fee is £10 to display your work but the evening itself is free.

A Starbucks spokesman added: “We encourage our customers to bring their re-useable cups into our stores by offering a 25p discount off all drinks for those using re-usable cups.”