Shoppers are being urged to “go local” to help keep the high street alive.

They are encouraged to buy at least one item from their local independent shop during July, which is national Independent Retailer Month.

Bury Council’s town centres team is working closely with independent firms in each of the borough’s townships to celebrate the diversity that shoppers can find on their doorstep.

Councillor Tony Isherwood, executive member for environment and economy, said: “Independent retailers can often provide more personal services and advice to customers than the chain stores, along with value for money.

“While some smaller businesses sell up or move on, others remain independent family firms from generation to generation. It’s vital for our townships that this continues and that people have a real choice of where they shop.”

Among the local “hidden gems” in the borough:

* Did you know you could get a competitive exchange rate for your holiday from Richard Anthony Jewellers in Radcliffe as well as sell your unwanted gold?

* Did you know there was a Mad Hatter’s Tea Room in Whitefield?

* Did you know that Memories Antiques in Ramsbottom holds 20 independent retail stalls selling products from war memorabilia to grandfather clocks?

* Did you know Prestwich has its own award-winning cheese shop selling around 75 hand-made cheeses?

You can download a Visit Whitefield guide at www.bury.gov.uk/whitefield or Ramsbottom guide at www.bury.gov.uk/ramsbottom

Richard Dandy of Richard Anthony's Jewellers and the chair of Radcliffe Traders Group said: "Radcliffe Traders Group fully support independent retailer month. We are proud to offer a tailor-made independent service to suit the needs of all our customers."

Paul Morris of The Chocolate Café in Ramsbottom said: "The Chocolate Café is proud to be part of Independent Retailer Month and we hope it serves to remind people of the many benefits of shopping local. The Ramsbottom Business Group has a great variety of members, all of which help to provide valuable local employment, community services and events in and around the town.

“To promote the best of Ramsbottom during Independent Retailer Month we will be offering our first 1,000 customers a unique goodie bag containing a range of offers and promotions from businesses throughout the town. The goodie bags will be available to customers from Friday 1 July on a first come, first served basis."

Retailers who want to promote their business throughout July can download information at www.independentretailermonth.co.uk

Here at The Best of Bury we are delighted to be working with over 150 independent retailers and are currently running a "Buy Local" campaign. If you are an independent retailer in Bury and would like a free "Buy Local" sticker just give us a call on 01706 281 320!