This is not the end of the year that our local Witham businesses wanted or needed.

Having battled through and adapted so resourcefully during this challenging 2020 we know that many of our retailers were looking forward to a strong final quarter of the year and welcoming a surge in trade as we head towards Christmas.

We all hope that the Government will be able to review restrictions in early December and unlock parts of our economy again.

In the meantime, we are really pleased Braintree District Council has launched a shop local online campaign to encourage local online support for our fantastic independent businesses. From fantastic boutiques to takeaways, our businesses are heading online to trade and they deserve our support.

Shoppers have a chance to shop local online in the comfort of their own home at: www.facebook.com/groups/shoplocalinthebraintree district.

Local businesses have been provided with poster templates and social media campaign materials to take part and can also add their own free listing to promote their business on the Visit Braintree District website: www.visitbraintree district.co.uk.

Any business who wants to take part, request the resources and be added to the website, can email tourism@braintree.gov.uk.

Let us all spend our money locally in the run-up to Christmas and until we can get out and about, let us do it online.

Councillors David Bebb, James Coleridge, Charley Dervish, Patrick Horner, Angela Kilmartin, Bill Rose, Sue Wilson - Conservative District Councillors for the Witham Area