A SCOTS council could become the first in the country to ban bottled water from all departments and meetings.

Councillors in Renfrewshire plan to end the supply of hundreds of free plastic bottles for staff and elected members.

The move would follow similar bans by some English local authorities and a UK government drive for departments to switch to tap water.

New figures reveal the House of Commons' catering department spent almost £325,000 on bottled water over the last five years.

Campaigners are demanding widespread bans in the public and private sector amid fears over the environmental impact of the plastic, production and travel costs.

Renfrewshire councillors Iain McMillan and Anne Hall have tabled a motion at today's full council meeting in Paisley urging officials to ditch bottles.

Councillor McMillan said: "Bottled water is expensive, not only in monetary terms but also for the environment.

"There is no reason why councillors can't fill up a bottle from the tap every day.

"We should all be doing our bit. Bottled water should only be used when there is no other option available.

"We are hoping for cross-party support in this."

Councillors will be urged to bring jugs of tap water into future meetings and water coolers will be linked up to the mains supply, as part of the proposals.

Yesterday, it emerged more than 850,000 litres of bottled water were bought by Westminster's refreshment department in the last five years.

Just last month, Defra minister Phil Woolas said drinking bottled water bordered on being "morally unacceptable".