People are being encouraged to make a New Year resolution to make small changes to help save the planet – just like one village did 12 months ago.

Instead of vowing to give up chocolate, many living in Bearsted near Maidstone pledged to do their bit to go greener.

The group of residents came together to form Bearsted CAN (Climate Action Network).

One of the organisers, Duncan Edwards, said: "It followed on from the Cop26 conference in Glasgow.

"We just decided to do what we could, as individuals and as a community."

Since then, the Bearsted CAN members have held a series of events to encourage others to recycle.

They've held talks on the environment and organised local collection hubs, and introduced a repair cafe to the village, where people can learn how to repair broken items rather than just throwing them away.

Mr Edwards said: "We've done our best to draw people together, with events involving the Cubs, Scouts and the church."

The campaign, which started with a core group of six members, now has 80 villagers on its regular email list and 180 signed up to its Facebook group.

Mr Edwards said: "The repair cafe has been particularly popular and we are aware that there are other repair cafes operating in Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells, for example.

"We would love to see the idea of a Climate Action Network expanded across other villages and parishes.

"Perhaps we can all work together?"

He said: "If there are groups elsewhere interested in setting up a group in their own community, we' d be delighted to share our experiences with them."

Contact Mr Edwards on bearstedcan@gmail.com

The repair cafe dates for 2023 will be January 28, April 29, July 29 and October 28, all starting at 1pm and all being held in the WI Hall in The Street, Bearsted.