A PASSPORT to happy pre-Christmas shopping will give a boost to local shops across the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston areas by the Mercury – and to you, the readers.

Today we launch a new “Shop Local for Christmas” scheme which will encourage people to do their festive shopping in the towns around them instead of heading to the bright lights, and traffic jams of the big city – and have the chance to win a �1,000 festive cash bonus!

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston have plenty of shops that are brimming with gifts and goods that will brighten a loved one’s Christmas, and save you being trapped in queues at the car park and check out.

These trading hubs on our doorstep are worth supporting and the Mercury campaign aims to do just that –while shoppers getting their special ‘passports’ fully stamped will also have the chance to win one of two �1,000 cash prizes.

The Shop Local for Christmas campaign aims to show that local towns have the extra factor – combining convenience and personal service, as well as the unusual, to take the stress out of festive shopping through businesses right under our noses.

The scheme being run in the following weeks to the Big Day, is being welcomed by many local traders – among them Palmers Department Store in Great Yarmouth Market Place, Sentiments of Yarmouth, First Furnishings of Gorleston and many, many more.

Palmers director Stuart McGee welcomed the initiative this week. He said: “It’s important that people support what is on their doorstep; in effect use it or lose it.

“In Great Yarmouth and Gorleston we have many independent stores and businesses which cater for every need and in many cases they arelocal business owners employing local people.”

Mr McGee added: “This initiative will help sustain the local economy and by Shopping Local people will help in keeping the businesses we already have here – and the range of products available in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston is staggering – there is no need to go elsewhere, it’s all here, on your doorstep.”

Town Centre manager Jonathan Newman has added his support. He said: “The Town Centre Partnership is pleased to be supporting the Great Yarmouth Mercury’s Shop Local campaign.

“Local independent businesses contribute to the identity of the town centre and help make it a more vibrant

place to shop, with unique traders and more choice for shoppers.

“Shopping locally also helps the local economy as money spent in local shops stays in the local area longer

than money spent with national chains. Many locally owned shops are supplied by local businesses, therefore

spending money locally supports even more local businesses.”

Shops across the area will be joining the Shop Local for Christmas scheme over the coming weeks, and each Friday – as well as on its website– the Mercury will be bringing you information on how to support the

scheme, and your local businesses, as well as a chance to win one of two �1,000 prizes.