You have heard of eco-friendly homes, clothes and cars – and now cocktail lovers can sip safe in the knowledge they are doing their bit to save the environment.

Staff at Time Bar, in London Road, Leicester, have come up with the idea of serving one of their best-selling cocktails, the mojito, in jam jars rather than glasses.

Customers are being encouraged to bring in empty jars in return for 50p off a drink.

Regulars can customise jars to leave at the bar, in a modern twist on the traditional tankards left behind the bar in pubs.

The idea is to encourage people to reuse jars rather than throwing them away.

Staff believe they could be the first in the country to try the idea, which was launched to customers last weekend.

Drew Mallins, a barman at Time, is also in charge of recycling.

The 23-year-old said: "We like to be creative with our drinks and we had a lot of jars left over from various things, so we decided to try it.

"They've gone down really well as it's quite a popular drink.

"Then there was the idea for people to bring their own jars in.

"If it takes off and people start bringing lots in, it means we are buying less glass and throwing less away.

"It means customers won't be throwing their old jars away, as well. As far as I know, there's no other bar that's doing it, certainly not in Leicester."

The mojito was chosen to promote the scheme because "it's the cocktail that looks best in the jars", but customers can choose any drink.

Drew, who lives in the city centre, said: "As a business, we try to recycle as much as possible.

"All our glass waste gets recycled and our head bartender has got an allotment, so he takes all of the food waste to put back in the ground."

Father-of-three Billy Allingham, who owns the bar, came up with the idea after using jam jars for drinks at home.

He said: "With young children, it stops you from buying new glasses all the time. That's how it turned into an idea for the bar.

"They look great. It's about getting people to recycle. Don't throw them in the bin, bring them to us and enjoy a cocktail.

"We want to get it into everyone's mind."

Environmental charities commended the bar.

Lisa-Jayne Smith, from Groundwork Leicester and Leicestershire, said: "I think it's a great idea. When it comes to recycling, any initiative that can get people enthusiastic about it is a good thing.

"It's about reducing, reusing and recycling, and this is reusing.

"I've not heard of it before, but putting that fun angle on it is a great idea. I think more bars should do it."