A CAMPAIGN to encourage people to shop locally, support their local High Street shops and independently-owned businesses is coming to Crediton.

"Keep Trade Local" is a Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) national campaign to highlight the plight of the shopping outlets around the UK.

The campaign has been revamped recently due to the horsemeat scandal and both the Mid Devon Branch and the Teignbridge branch of the FSB will be taking part in the campaign.

The Mid Devon event will be held in Crediton on Friday, June 7.

An empty shop will be used on the day and Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon and a number of councillors have already agreed to take part.

Crediton Town Council are backing the initiative.

The Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Frank Letch, told the Courier: "Crediton Town Council fully endorses any initiative that promotes local businesses and helps our High Street and industrial estate to flourish.

"The council has a policy of buying locally and using local craftsmen whenever possible.

"We also press the Mid Devon District Council planners to prioritise retail outlets when business premises fall vacant in the town."

He added: "A busy High Street means a flourishing town."

Susan Wilkinson, from the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "Following the recent horsemeat scandal, many people chose to use their independent, high street butchers.

"We want to see people using all of the independent businesses on the high street and celebrate the uniqueness and flavour that they bring to their communities.

"Once a high street has fallen into decline the trend can be very difficult to reverse."

She added: However, there are still issues that local authorities can address to help reverse the tide of closing shops and help people return to the high street."

She went on: "If you are a small business owner - what can you do?

"We want more people to use their independent shops and to think small first. So what can you do?

"If you would like stickers for your shop windows, or to say 'thank you' to your customers by giving them a postcard with their purchase please call the FSB Devon Office on 01803 322499.

"If you are a consumer - what can you do?

"Why not think small first, when you set off to the shops or when you want to employ a service or visit a cafe?

"The greengrocer and the butcher, they are not always more expensive than the supermarket and they offer a personalised service that you can seldom get in a big supermarket.

"Sadly, the case is that if we don't use our independent businesses we will lose them.

"Together we can keep our high streets not just alive, but thriving."

In addition, Crediton Chamber of Commerce will this month launch a new Crediton website, thanks to a £2,000 from the High Street Innovation Fund via Mid Devon District Council and a further £6,500 to produce a twice-yearly "Crediton Shopper" magazine.

Both initiatives are to provide people with information about shops and services available in Crediton and to attract trade from outside of the town.

Two issues of the magazine will be produced, one for the EX17 postcode area and the other for the EX4 area.

Queen Elizabeth's Academy IT department is helping with the production of the magazines.

GPS positioning will be a feature of the website, locating each of the businesses on Crediton High Street.

A book fair is planned for June 1 and the Chamber of Commerce hope to launch the magazines and websites prior to that date.

The book fair will run by Crediton's Once Read book shop and held at the old Town Hall, also incorporating existing town book shops and as part of the six-week Crediton Festival.