INDEPENDENT shops in Penarth are banding together this April to encourage local spending with several prizes up for grabs.

Almost 60 shops in Penarth are taking part in 'Pay it Forward with a Penarth Fiver' from April 1 until April 16.

Each time shoppers spend £5 in one of the participating businesses, then they are given a 'Penarth Fiver'.

Every 'Penarth Fiver' is a ticket for the prize draw in which lucky shoppers can win one of 10 gift hampers.

The chances of winning a hamper are increased every time a shopper spends £5 with no limit on entries per person.

Angelina Hall, chair of the Penarth Business Group and co-owner of retail gallery and studio Glass by Design said: "When you spend £5 in a local business it’s worth far more than that to the community.

"Independent business owners tend to spend with other local traders, so your money circulates within the town with a significant multiplier effect.

"It’s estimated that if every adult in Penarth spent an extra £5 a week locally, it would add £4.3 million a year to our local economy."

READ MORE:

The initiative comes from Penarth Business Forum which is working on maintaining the businesses in the area and promoting local spending.

The group have other plans for Penarth, with initiative planned as long away as Christmas.

Forum member Mel Griffin, of award-winning independent bookshop Griffin Books, said: "We’re already collaborating on a new approach to lighting up Penarth this Christmas, which we hope will bring extra sparkle and magic to the town. Watch this space."