Focus to back green pledge

DIY group Focus Wickes has signed up to a Friends of the Earth campaign to phase out risky chemicals from products.

The number two player follows competitors B&Q and Homebase in adopting the pledge. They have agreed to rid products of chemicals that could affect people's immune, hormone or nervous systems over the next five years.

Safer chemicals campaigner Karine Pellaumail of Friends of the Earth said: 'This is good news for consumers who want to buy DIY products free from health-threatening chemicals and shows that top retailers are becoming increasingly careful about the products they sell and the chemicals they contain.'