JAKE Berry, MP for Rossendale, is urging people to vote for their favourite independent shops in the last week of a competition to crown the area’s best.

Every voter is entered into a raffle to win a £50 voucher and prizes for the winning shops include professional marketing sessions, a tour of Parliament and lunch with Mr Berry.

He said: “This competition is a small way of letting our local retailers know how much we appreciate and support them.

“Here in Rossendale, we are really lucky to have many wonderful and unique independent shops who are the life blood of our communities. I’ve been overwhelmed by the support the competition has received. “So far over 4,000 votes have been cast, however it’s still very close.”

The competition will close on Friday at 5pm.