MY family and I had a great time at yet another very busy Christmas lights switch-on in Penarth town centre.

There was plenty of activity to be enjoyed to kick-start the Christmas festivities, from fairground rides and live music to refreshments and dance performances – we were even lucky enough to receive a visit from Father Christmas and his reindeer!

The big man also had the honour of switching on the town’s Christmas lights.

It was great to see so many residents attend the festivities. It is events like this in the very heart of Penarth which demonstrate how lucky we are to have such a varying and vibrant collection of businesses, which are so accessible.

It was great to witness how the streets opened up to more traditional businesses of selling hand-crafted Christmas gifts and roasted chestnuts, adding to the selection of businesses we already have on offer.

Many of you will be aware of Small Business Saturday, which this year falls on December 7. The campaign aims to encourage people to “shop local” and to support small businesses in their communities.

For me, one of the highlights of living in Penarth is access to a vibrant High Street. The street, and town as a whole, provides such a variety there really isn’t any need to go anywhere else.

I regularly make use of shops on the High Street, particularly the greengrocers and butchers, while my wife, Michelle, makes use of others. Shopping locally you are almost always guaranteed to receive a first-class service with a smile, and it is that welcome, as well as the quality of the product or service, that keeps customers coming back – these are the reasons I always make that return trip.

That’s why I’ve got behind our local shops for this year’s Small Business Saturday. In the run up to Small Business Saturday I have been visiting businesses across the constituency to talk to local business owners about them, their staff, what they enjoy about running their own business and the challenges that they face.

On Friday December 5 I will be visiting businesses across Penarth. If you would like me to visit your business then please get in touch with my office on 0300 200 7150 or by emailing vaughan.gething@assembly.wales.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the town council, as well as all its partners in organising the lights switch-on this year. Thanks should also go to the local businesses who supported and I’d like to encourage residents to visit their local business to support Small Business Saturday.