INDEPENDENT businesses in Stroud are taking part in the National Fiver Fest this week, encouraging shoppers back into their town centres and high streets with £5 promotional offers.

Shops, cafés, restaurants, pubs and businesses taking part are putting on special £5 deals for the duration of the Fiver Fest campaign, which runs until Saturday.

Tony Davey, chair of Stroud Chamber of Trade said: "The last National Fiver Fest was a huge success, with 41 towns and thousands of independent shops getting involved.

“We decided to join in with those other towns across the UK that ran the Fiver Fest last June, as it seems such a great idea for Stroud.

"We have a vibrant independent business community in Stroud and this gives us an ideal opportunity to showcase our businesses and offer some great deals to the people of Stroud, customers old and new.”

The Fiver Fest promotes the main Totally Locally message - “If every adult in Stroud spent just £5 a week with their local independent shops and businesses instead of online or at the big supermarkets or chain stores it would be worth £4.5 million going directly into our local economy”.

The Fiver Fest is part of the award winning Totally Locally Town Kit – a completely free marketing campaign for towns to use which has been hugely successful.

Chris Sands, founder of Totally Locally said: “Independent businesses are the lifeblood of our high streets and town centres, run by incredibly passionate and knowledgeable people, often pouring their life savings into their businesses.

"Everyone is aware of the challenges our high streets are facing and, so far, there has been a lot of talk but no real actions.

“Since we created The Totally Locally Town Kit and campaign, towns involved have gone on to win the High Street of The Year competition and other awards for turning their towns around, the number of empty shops in their towns reduced, and they have created brand new markets and events.

"But most of all the businesses in the towns have started to work together to promote their town and each other, which is the easiest way to bring life back to the high street."