INDEPENDENT businesses in Dursley are taking part in the National Fiver Fest, encouraging shoppers back into the town centre with £5 promotional offers.

Shops, cafés, restaurants and businesses taking part are putting on special £5 deals for the duration of the Fiver Fest campaign, which runs February 15 to 29.

Molly Chinner, who owns the Sunshine Space yoga centre, has helped to organise the event.

She said: “We are super proud to be taking part in Fiver Fest.

“The idea is to get people shopping on their local high street, generating money back into the local community and economy.

“We’ve managed to get lots of local businesses on board and are really excited to be hosting loads of brilliant £5 offers around Dursley.

“There will be amazing deals on, across everything from food, drink, gifts, DIY, yoga classes, plants, flowers and loads more goodies.”

For a fiver, shoppers will be able to try a drop in yoga class; buy a bunch of flowers; tuck in to homemade mac and cheese; enjoy a coffee and a bacon roll, or a panini and coffee; choose from a range of gifts, jewellery and toys; snap up a meter of fabric, or pick up some specialist foot products.

Chris Sands, founder of Totally Locally, said: “Independent businesses are the lifeblood of our high streets and town centres, run by incredibly passionate and knowledgeable people, often pouring their life savings into their businesses.

“Everyone is aware of the challenges our high streets are facing and, so far, there has been a lot of talk but no real actions.

“Since we created The Totally Locally campaign, towns involved have gone on to win the High Street of The Year competition and other awards for turning their towns around, the number of empty shops in their towns reduced, and they have created brand new markets and events.

“But most of all the businesses in the towns have started to work together to promote their town and each other, which is the easiest way to bring life back to the high street.”