A WOMAN inspired by a “distressing” film is working with others in the community to raise awareness about protecting the planet.

Kay Stephan took it upon herself to organise an event to boost the plastic-free movement – and things have snowballed.

The day will include talks from people running environmentally friendly businesses and stalls with sustainable and plastic-free goods.

Kay, from Brighton, said: “I saw a lot of films last year at a film festival about plastic and the effect it has on our wildlife.

“There were one or two that really stuck with me.

“They were just so utterly distressing and I thought I really have to do something.

“I couldn’t just continue with those images in my head and not do anything.

“If we sit around waiting for the Government or corporate companies to do something about it then we will let ourselves down.”

The event called “Plastic free Prestonville” will take place at the Exeter Street Hall in Brighton on Saturday, February 23 from 2pm.

It is a free event and open to all to attend.

Speakers include Ruth Anslow, co-founder of Hisbe, an ethical supermarket in Brighton, and Atlanta Cook from Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), an environmental charity fighting plastic pollution.

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas will also be attending to show her support.

Kay said: “It will be such a good event for sharing ideas on how we can all do our bit to live a plastic-free life.”

She said the day will also see the launch of SAS’s new campaign for a plastic-free city.

Jo Godden, founder of Brighton-based ethical clothes shop Ruby Moon who will also be giving a talk at the event, said: “The Surfers Against Sewage campaign is aiming to make Brighton the first plastic-free seaside city.

“The charity will start advising businesses to get rid of any single-use plastic and take it from there.

“There is a huge amount of support in this movement.”

An image by Louise McCurdy, a Brighton artist actively involved in the anti-plastic movement, is being used for the SAS campaign.

It will be using her “visual comment on the plastic pandemic” .

Louise said: “Our consumption of plastic has placed it everywhere.

“It’s ubiquitous and not inert, it’s leaching into our food, our drinking water, shedding from our clothes, into the oceans, into our soil, and into the air we breathe.

“I’m on an exciting and timely journey with my Hoover with aspirations to travel far and wide, anywhere that the impact of microfibres released from our synthetic clothing occurs, which is everywhere really.”