PENDLE Council is launching a new initiative to persuade shoppers to spend locally.

Celebrate What’s Great encourages residents to spend £5 of their weekly shopping bill in Pendle’s independent shops every week.

It will be launched on , December 7 to increase trade in Pendle’s shops in the run-up to Christmas and beyond.

Hanna Latty, town centres officer, said: “Celebrate What’s Great is all about doing just that.

“But as well as celebrating the value of shopping locally it will have a real benefit for our economy.”

Celebrate What’s Great is being launched on Small Business Saturday, a national campaign, originally started in the US.

That too is about getting people to make a conscious decision to shop in local, independent shops for one day.

Coun Joe Cooney, leader of Pendle Council, said: “Initiatives like Small Business Saturday have proved to be very successful, particularly in the US.

“Celebrate What’s Great is something we can do locally which is much more long-term and will have a much bigger impact on our economy.”