WOTTON traders have joined forces to offer late-night shopping in the town.

Twenty two independent businesses are now taking part in the new Thursday evening openings.

Sally Ice, owner of Crafters gift shop, believes the new hours will give more flexibility to people who can’t get to the shops during the day.

Sally said: “We have an enviable High Street which combines the best of ‘essential shops’ such as green grocers and butchers mixed with new exciting craft and specialist shops.

“One element that has been lacking however was extending our opening hours to allow people working away from Wotton to use our lovely shops.

“Opening longer hours can be difficult for smaller owner run shops.

“But by all opening together on one night per week, we hope that it will maximise the attractiveness to shoppers, as most of the High Street will be open and buzzing.”

Sally says that thanks to the diverse range of stores taking parts, shoppers should be able to find everything they want.

Here's a handy list of participating businesses: Cookability, Clarences, Crafters, Daisy Daisy, Decadent Des Res , FiFi Fancy Furniture, Fish out of Water Gallery, Good Food Green Grocers, Good Food Deli, Imagined Interiors, Kings Barbers Wotton, Loobylou Yarns, Loving Home, Mint Plants, Mr Tea's Teas, Relish, Tanzee Designs, Tanzee Jewellery, Victoria Fabrics, Wotton Coffee Shop, Wotton DIY, Wotton Heritage Centre.

And not forgetting all those open till late already: Lloyds Chemist, Co-op, Tesco Express, Bear Street Garage and pubs.