AN East Lancashire businessman is leading the way in the fight to support local businesses amidst the coronavirus crisis.

Marco Vaghetti, who lives and works in Whalley, is urging people across the region to band together and help local companies maintain their livelihoods, by launching a competition in which lucky participants can win a stack of prizes from more than 20 other local brands.

Mr Vaghetti, who owns LANX Shoes, a shoe company based in his home town, said: “We’ve just launched the ultimate Lancashire Survival Kit via our Facebook. There’s lots of prizes on offer and all people have to do is follow the details on the post pinned to the top of our Facebook page.

“The aim of the competition is to promote and support local businesses during this difficult time. Many of these businesses make products in Lancashire and employ people in Lancashire, like us.

“So we’d be chuffed if people could familiarise themselves with the list of local Lancashire businesses who have currently provided prizes for the competition.

“We want people to follow them on social media, but much more importantly, we want people to spend money with them over next few weeks, as they and their staff really need the support.”

Mr Vaghetti, who launched LANX shoes in 2018, said he’s keen to push the Shop Local campaign too, and wants to help and support the initiative in any way he can.

He added: “We’re looking for other Lancashire brands to contribute and benefit, so if anyone wants to get involved they can email hello@lanxshoes.com to donate more prizes.”

The Lancashire Survival Kit includes the following prizes:

LANX: Bag of 7 socks

Cuckoo Gin Distillery: Bottle of Solace

Bowland Brewery: Keg of Beer

Lancashire Tea: Box

Fiddlers Lancashire crisps: Box of choice

Goosnargh Gin: Bottle of your choice

Finch Bakery: £25 gift card & 6 x cupcakes

Atkinsons Coffee Roasters: 4 x 250g bags of their Classic Archetype Blend

The Cheese Shop at Dewlay: The Lancashire Box

Megan Hair: £50 gift card to spend on products

The Beauty Emporium: £20 gift card towards treatments

Fishermans Friends: 12 packs

Exchange Coffee: Bag of your choice

Mylk+: Pack of 6

The Ribble Valley Gin Co: Bottle of your choice

Holland Pies: Pack of 4 pies

Whalley Wine Shop: 6x bottles

Crafty Vintage: VIP Shopping Experience

Choc Amor: 1x Box Collection

Melt Candles: A candle

The Bee Centre: 454g jar of honey

Morrow Brothers: Selection of Lancashire beers

Rivington Brewery: Mini Keg

Rivington Chocolates: Mini hamper, a bag of double dipped honeycomb, a 6 box of chocs & a hot Chocolate dipper

Vine in the Wild: £50 gift card

BusinessGiftUK.com: 3 refillable travel mugs and 3 sports water bottles

1838 Wallcoverings: £300 gift voucher

Holdens & Co: £20 ice cream gift card

The competition ends on April 1.

To be in with a chance of winning and to support local visit lanxshoes.com/blogs/news/win-a-lancashire-survival-kit or facebook.com/LANXSHOES