A hotel that is bottling London tap water instead of selling expensive mineral brands has won an environmental award.

The Cavendish in Jermyn Street has set up its own water bottling plant in a spare room. Tap water is filtered then used to fill 400 glass bottles before being given to guests free of charge.

After each use, bottles are sterilised and reused. "We have really looked at everything we do with a view to both reducing our environmental impact, but also saving money," said hotel spokesman Chris Penn. "The most obvious change was to not use bottled water. It's been a huge success, and we estimate saves us around £14,500 per year." The designer bottles used by the Cavendish can be reused up to 400 times. The hotel has instigated many other energy-saving measures and also hires out bicycles to guests and gives them walking and running routes.

The Cavendish is the first to get a gold award in the London Development Agency's Green Tourism programme. More than 100 tourist organisations have signed up to the scheme, which provides advice on reducing water and energy bills.

• 

  Lenny Henry: 'Maybe one day we can have a black Doctor Who'

  As he wins the outstanding newcomer prize at the Evening Standard theatre awards for his role as Othello, Lenny Henry has come a long way from black and white minstrels

  ---

• 

  Spread of the Jedhead

  Jedward, voted off the X-Factor this weekend, are the most obvious proponents of the sticky-uppy look - but the style crosses boundaries of age, gender, sexuality and taste, says Nick Curtis

  ---

Sky in plot to hire students on the cheap

Sky News is currently recruiting students as reporters for its coverage of next year's general election. However, the opportunity doesn't quite seem so appealing

All stories