Marks & Spencer has appointed TV star and campaigner Joanna Lumley as its “global eco ambassador”.

Lumley, well known from shows such as Absolutely Fabulous as well as her campaign for Gurkha veterans, lent her backing to the retailer as it unveiled a new phase of its Plan A sustainability drive yesterday.

M&S has launched a nationwide clothes recycling initiative in a tie-up with Oxfam. The retailer is promoting ‘shwopping’ by asking customers to exchange, or shwop, old or unwanted items of clothing – of any brand – when they buy a new garment so it can be reused.