RIBBLE Valley shops were hoping for one of their busiest days of the year today with the return of a campaign to support small firms.

Small Business Saturday, which aims to promote independent retailers, is being backed by a host of stores and town centre teams across the borough.

The grassroots scheme is being backed throughout the UK, encouraging consumers to ‘shop local’.

Coun Ken Hind, chairman of Longridge Town Team, said smaller stores formed 'the nucleus' of the High Street.

Clitheroe Christmas Festival, featuring Santa's Grotto, carol singing and helpers from the town's Jazz, Mod and Food Festivals, will take place today (SAT) to drive footfall.

Charlotte Eccles, owner of Raffia Gift Consultancy and Lifestyle Store, in King Street, said: "Small Business Saturday helps to keep money in the community. The independent shops are what people like about Clitheroe; the fact that is has its own individuality and offers something a bit different.

"It offers a change from lots of the other High Streets which have been quite homogenised. If you value the community and want to take a break from the homogenised High Street then days like this are a great opportunity.

Judith Thornber, who runs lingerie specialists County Vogue, in Moor Lane, added: "I think because Clitheroe is a small market town and the majority of shops are all small, independent retailers, people like that.

"Places like Manchester are great but we do tend to find that we get a lot of regular customers who come back to the town because they like they atmosphere here.

"Because we are all little independents, lots of people like that. The customers come back year after year because we can offer them a fantastic service and take the time to speak to them personally.

"We've been here for more than 30 years so we must be doing something right."

On the same day, Longridge Does Christmas will see another stop-off for Santa and a family fun day at The Towneley Arms in Berry Lane.

Coun Hind, Conservative member for Dilworth, said: "Small and independent businesses are the life blood of our towns and villages. Across this area we are lucky to have some fabulous independent shops, and it’s great to be able to promote these during Small Business Saturday on December 6.

''As growth has come back into the economy it is the small businesses that have been one of the main driving forces and created hundreds of thousands of new jobs so the work force in the UK is higher than it has ever been before and unemployment continues to fall.