Shop Local is the big message nationally this Christmas and what better place to do it than Bridport.

On Wednesday I spent the day with BBC Spotlight South West reporter John Henderson filming and interviewing people around the town for a piece that will be broadcast in the coming week as part of a series about towns in the south west.

During my piece to camera I told him that, “If you can’t get it in Bridport you can’t get it anywhere”. He gave me a slightly curious look as if doubting my statement but by the end of the day he had to agree that we are blessed with a most fantastic range of shops, the majority of which are not the chains you see across the country.

Rather than use words to continue to shout far and wide what a fantastic place Bridport is to shop, I am going to let the photographs I took on Saturday speak for me.

SHOP LOCAL AND SAVE YOUR HIGH STREET

SHOP LOCAL AND SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT

SHOP LOCAL AND SAVE FUEL

SHOP LOCAL AND GET PERSONAL SERVICE

SHOP LOCAL AND ENJOY A SOCIAL EXPERIENCE

SHOP LOCAL because research shows the for every £10 spent with a local independent shop up to an additional £50 goes back into the local economy.