ONE of Southampton's biggest bars has today backed the Daily Echo's Last Orders for Glass campaign.

The Australian theme bar The Walkabout was one of the first in the city to introduce plastic containers five years ago during certain events such as big match days.

Since then the use of these high end plastic - polycarbonate - containers at the High Street venue has grown to include Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings as well as during major sporting events.

The bar has said it would not rule out expanding the use of plastic containers to other nights of the week.

Any decision to do so is up to the manager if, for example, there is a particularly busy weekday night.

Now staff at the bar hope other late night bars across Hampshire's cities and towns will follow the Walkabout's lead.

A spokesman for the chain's Southampton venue said: "Working with the police and local authorities, Walkabout Southampton has voluntarily introduced polycarbonate plastics where we have judged that the risk of having glass in the venue outweighs the downsides of plastic."

Walkabout also serves Smirnoff Ice, Stella, J20, becks, Budweiser, WKD, Foster's and Bulmers Original in plastic bottles d u r i n g we e ke n d evenings and sport events.

T h e chain's spokes man added: "We would also happily replace all glass bottles with plastics if they were available from our suppliers.

"Walkabout takes great pride in being a responsible venue."

Across Southampton fewer than one in ten nightspots currently use the virtually unbreakable polycarbonate containers that are durable and can be used hundreds of times over.

The Daily Echo launched its Last Orders For Glass campaign last month calling for late night bars and clubs to serve all drinks in plastic following a rise in the number of people being admitted to hospital following glassing attacks.

Southampton General Hospital's emergency department currently sees about four or five victims of glassing incidents every weekend - totalling in the region of around 260 patients a year.

Many are left scarred for life because of their injuries.