OKEHAMPTON town and borough councillors the Rev Mike Davies and Ben Stephens were joined by the town’s MP on December 5 in visiting businesses in Red Lion Yard as part of Small Business Saturday.

The nationwide initiative is designed to promote small independent traders. Dozens of businesses in Okehampton took part and Central Devon MP Mel Stride said he was pleased to support the event.

He said: ‘Small Business Saturday resulted in a 20% increase in trade on this day last year, and seeing the number of businesses in Okehampton taking part today I have no doubt it will have been a great success again. The strength of local independent traders is one of the biggest factors in ensuring our small market towns remain vibrant and successful.’

Cllr the Rev Davies said: ‘Okehampton has a real variety of local businesses and it was great to visit many of those based in Red Lion Yard today. The majority of businesses are doing very well which is a good sign for the future of our town.’

Small Business Saturday is an annual event held on the first Saturday of December. It is a grassroots, non-political, non-commercial campaign that encourages people to shop locally.

The campaign also highlights the successes of business across the country.

For more information please visit the website www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com