Town gets together to boost tourism and trade

Businesses and councils in a Warwickshire town have come together to launch a new website and marketing campaign to promote the area.

Love Shipston is aimed at encouraging day-trippers and families to spend more time in Shipston-on-Stour, and explore its small businesses and restaurants.

Stuart Walsh, who runs Shipston Spokes cycle store, said: "We've got a Tesco, a Co-op and a Lloyds Bank, but all the other shops and businesses here are locally-owned."

The project is supported by the town and county councils.

Retail expert Kim Hulse, who has led the project, told BBC CWR: "The website brings together a directory of all the shops, places to eat and drink and all the places to spend some time."

A retailer involved in the project, Shane Slater, from Sheldon's Wine Cellars, said the aim was to raise awareness of what the town had to offer.

He explained: "Letting people know we're here, attracting people to the town, increasing footfall - especially during the week - will be important to all the businesses."

The Shipston project ties in with a wider Warwickshire County Council campaign encouraging people to Buy and Eat Local.

The authority said if everyone in the county over the age of 16 spent £10 a week with a local business, it would put  £5m into the local economy.

Martin Watson from the council said: "These historic towns are fantastic, but it's important we support them and that's about buying local."

He added: "It's very easy to go off online, but we're trying to encourage people to get back into these market towns."

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