York will be going green when an environment roadshow rolls into the city next week. MAXINE GORDON reports.

ARE you doing your bit? That's the question green campaigners will be asking when they set up stall in Parliament Street next week.

For two days - next Wednesday and Thursday - a mobile exhibition will be staged, encouraging all members of the family to 'do their bit' for the environment.

And the good news is, that by going green, families can make savings on their household bills too.

The campaign, launched by the Government, has won the backing of a host of celebrities including comic Mark Lamarr.

Lamarr stars in TV ads, encouraging us to take showers rather than baths, pointing out that by doing so we would save enough water each week for 1,000 cups of tea. And talking of tea, by filling the kettle with just enough water for a cuppa, in one week we'd save enough energy to light our home for a day.

Visitors to the exhibition can learn more about how to become more environmentally-aware by operating the latest user-friendly technology.

At the press of a button, you can deluge Ian McCaskill in the shower or play an interactive game to find out more about how global warming is affecting the UK's climate.

There will also be a Local Action Centre staffed by experts offering advice on how to 'do your bit' locally and providing discounts on environmental products and services.

The roadshow, part of a DETR (Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions) national campaign, is visiting 25 locations across the country this year.

A spokesperson said: "The central thrust of the campaign is to convince individuals that small individual actions to help the environment are important.

"The campaign's key messages focus on four areas: showing how individuals can reduce local pollution by changing their travel habits; fight global warming by using energy efficiently; conserve water; and reduce waste."

Visitors to the Local Action Centre can collect an 'Action Bag' containing lots of useful information, and a range of goodies from pencils made out of recycled cups, to 'Hog' water-saving devices and recycled toilet rolls, and also receive discounts off environmentally friendly purchases.

They can also get involved in a new scheme to recycle their old power tools, run by Bosch. Everyone who brings along their old power tools for recycling will get a free five-piece masonry drill bit set, and be entered into a prize draw to win one of four Bosch Hammer Drills worth £60 each.

To find out more about how you can "do your bit", call the campaign hotline number 0345 868686 or visit the website at www.doingyourbit.org.uk. Environmental groups interested in supporting 'are you doing your bit?' should ring the campaign office on 020 7544 3131.

PICTURE: Ian McCaskill, the former BBC weatherman, who gets a

drenching in an interactive game at the exhibition