Getting businesses back on their feet after the challenging time of Covid-19 is key for Copeland Borough Council – and with your help, the feat will be made that much easier for everyone.

Communities throughout the borough are being encouraged to give their local traders a much-needed – and well-deserved – boost following the months of closures and worries, and what better way is there than pulling together to help our tremendous towns?

Covering Whitehaven, Egremont, Cleator Moor and Millom – and everywhere in-between – the council-led campaign shares one simple message: Shop Local – Keep it in Copeland.

And everyone from pubs, cafes and restaurants to shoe shops, butchers, bakers and beauticians could do with your love and support right now, and are grateful for each and every pound spent to keep their livelihoods afloat.

Florist Nicola Armstrong owns the Bloom Room at Millom, and is delighted with the support already received from the town.

“It was a bit frightening going into lockdown, thinking I might lose everything I’d worked so hard for overnight, but Millom is just fantastic for showing support,” she said.

“I think people have realised if they don’t use local businesses, they’ll lose them, and it means so much that people do come in and order over the phone, to me and to other shops.”

Sharing the council’s aim, Nicola encouraged everyone to continue being “brilliant” with their support: “Keep doing what you’re doing, and getting behind businesses, because it’s just so important.”

Whitehaven butcher David Dawson, of Wils Hambling Butchers, is also excited about the campaign, and can't wait to see the community pulling together to help each other out.

The fourth-generation owner said: "Shopping locally won't just benefit shopkeepers, but the town as a whole.

"Smaller businesses have definitely suffered during the Covid situation, but also in recent years as well, so it'll be really nice to see everyone coming together – everybody needs a helping hand a boost right now!"

For more information on the campaign, and to feature in our media coverage, visit www.copeland.gov.uk/shop-local-campaign.

You can also join the campaign on Facebook and Twitter, using #shoplocalcopeland.