B&Q has announced it will be the first UK stockist of Clean Spirit, the green alternative to White Spirit.

The new product from Bartoline Ltd will go on sale at B&Q next week following strong sales in the retailer's two eco shops in New Maldon and Sutton where it was recently trialled. Customers in the two stores chose the non-toxic, eco-friendly spirit over the regular white spirit choices one out of every three times, which B&Q says proves "green alternatives are in demand."

B&Q's corporate social responsibility director Matt Sexton said: "We're always on the look out for green alternatives at great prices that we know our customers will snap up and we've found it in Clean Spirit.

"Clean Spirit has low VOC properties and is less polluting to the air in your home. Best of all our customers won't be paying a penny extra to make the greener choice."

It ties in with the retailer's recent appearance at the BRC Better Retailing Climate reception. Speaking to DIY Week at the event, a representative for B&Q explained how important it was for larger home improvement companies to take responsibility for households' sustainability.