Trials are taking place in Banbury, Kidlington, Witney and Heyford Hill which could see the traditional milk bottle replaced with an environmentally friendly plastic pouch.

Dairy Crest is running a pilot scheme copying Canadian, Indian and Swiss dairies which sell milk in two-pint clear plastic bags to supermarkets and delivery companies.

Milk pouches cost 2p less than a two-pint plastic bottle.

A Dairy Crest spokesman said the eight-week pilot scheme was also taking place in Hampshire and Somerset.

She said the pouches were being marketed as "the smart environmental choice" as they took up less space in landfill sites than plastic bottles.

Plastic pouches have been used in Canada for the past 30 years. Consumers can use the milk immediately or freeze it.

Dairies and shops also supply milk jugs into which the pouch is placed and then cut open.