An initiative that aims to help the public ditch single-use plastic water bottles by setting up refill stations has reached a milestone.

Refill Isle of Man has established 100 refill stations just four months since its launch.

Ivor Ramsden, director at the Manx Aviation and Military Museum at Ronaldsway, is the latest to sign up the scheme.

The scheme directs members of the public to shops, restaurants, tourist attractions and other publicly-accessible places that provide free tap water for people to fill up their reusable bottles.

It was launched by Unesco Biosphere Isle of Man with Manx Utilities’ support at the Manx Wildlife Trust shop in Peel, which had a drinking water fountain installed specially for the public’s use.

A spokesman from Unesco Biosphere IOM said: ’We launched #RefillIsleofMan in January and are delighted so many of you have come on board to reduce the number of plastic water bottles sold - and carelessly disposed of.’

Martyn Perkins MHK, Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture member for ecosystem policy, visited the museum to present a certificate to Mr Ramsden to mark the milestone.

The museum, which is located near the airport, tells the story of the Isle of Man at war and the island’s aviation history.

Mr Ramsden said: ’The museum tries to be green.

’We recycle waste and a lot of the material used in our display cases is recycled. Even our buildings are reused World War Two Nissen huts. Cutting plastic use is a cause we believe in.’

Some other refill stations include: Foraging Vintners in Port Erin; Shakti Man and Milntown Cafe/Restaurant in Ramsey; Noa Bakehouse, The Alpine, The Tea Junction and the Villa Gaiety in Douglas; Greens and the One World Centre in St John’s; The Shed in Laxey; Castletown Town Hall and the Secret Pizza Company in Castletown; The Boatyard in Peel; plus Niarbyl Cafe.

Members of the public can find refill stations when out and about by downloading the free Refill app or look out for the easy-to-recognise blue stickers on shop windows.

To sign up as a refill station, which is free of charge, or to find out more about the initiative, visit: www.gov.im/Refill or email [email protected]