Two Kent MPs have been speaking about their efforts to give up plastic for Lent.

Faversham and Mid Kent representative Helen Whately is among those who have pledged to ditch single-use water bottles.

In a post to constituents on her Facebook page she said she will also be saying no to plastic shopping bags, straws and drinking bottles.

Speaking about the 40-day challenge she added: "For Lent what I did is give up using plastic bottles.

"Also I'm working on trying to stop all single-use plastic waste.

"I would say for me I've found it a bit tricky where I realised I hadn't planned ahead and hadn't got a drink with me.

"I hope I'll be able to carry it on after Lent.

"I decided that I wanted to give up something plastic for Lent because it's a good moment to think of changing.

"For many years I've been worried about increasing use of plastic.

"Actually in my office sometimes I look around and there's a mountain of water bottles."

Joining Helen in her quest to cut out single-use plastics is Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch.

The minister for Sport and Civil Society revealed in a post on social media she would give up plastic.

Among some of her pledges were, to use a reusable takeaway coffee cup, buy fruit and vegetables loose and not buy sandwiches in plastic packaging.

She said on her Facebook page: "I have made a conscious effort to avoid plastics, but it's incredibly difficult and actually hard not to fail.

"Where I have been good is with water bottles, takeaway coffees and loose vegetables.

"Where it has been more difficult is in packaging and even despite efforts to find alternatives it has been near impossible.

" I went to a major coffee chain with my sister and niece.

"My sister and I both had coffee and because we were drinking in were automatically given it in a ceramic mug.

"My niece however asked for a Frappachino which even though we were drinking in was served in a plastic cup with a straw.

"Why we didn't challenge it at the time I don't know but speaking to my sister two days later we both mentioned it and wondered why it wasn't served in a tall Latte glass."

• Have you given anything up for Lent? Let us know how you got on in the comments.