ORGANISERS of the Shop Penarth rewards scheme are promoting a festive challenge to local residents, to try to encourage people to as much of their Christmas shopping as they can locally.

Shop Penarth supports local businesses by offering a discount card which earns shoppers money off in certain stores across the town. The scheme, originally launched in 2010, was revived in September this year and since then more than 50 firms have agreed to take part.

And for those behind the scheme, the festive period provides a perfect time of year to shop locally, with one member saying: “We can hardly encourage everyone else to shop locally and then go online or off to Cardiff ourselves.”

Tricia Griffiths, one of the founder members behind the scheme, has been challenged by two of her grandchildren to 'Shop Penarth' for everything the family will eat and drink over Christmas, as well as buying presents from the various gift shops around the town.

Her family had no problem in drawing up a list of where to get what they needed, adding in locations for 'Granny' to stop off for coffee breaks (or a glass of wine).

Ms Griffiths' grandchildren told their grandmother that they were lucky to live in Penarth, with good butchers, bakers, a greengrocer, cheese and deli stores and a real sweet shop on their doorstep.

The scheme's founders are now asking local residents to 'Shop Penarth' this festive season, and are offering an exclusive prize to Penarth Times readers for taking part in the Christmas challenge.

If you're attempting the challenge this Christmas, please tell us about it. The most interesting account

will be published in the Penarth Times and the writer will be presented with a £25 voucher which

can be exchanged in any of the Shop Penarth shops – look for the round, teal-coloured signs.

Entries should be sent by email to: gwyrddio.penarth.greening@googlemail.com, or posted to: Anthony Lewis, Penarth Times, Cardiff Road, Newport, NP20 3QN by Friday, December 8.