IN the run up to Christmas the #VeryEvesham campaign has been championing local businesses giving a boost to the town's high street.

The campaign run by the Evesham Journal has been banging the drum for the town's wonderful range of shops, pubs, restaurants, cafes and other services in print, online, on mobile and on social media using the hashtag #VeryEvesham.

Apart from what they sell and the services they provide, businesses are a part of the mix that makes our area such a vibrant place in which to live and work.

We have been reminding shoppers just how fabulous Evesham – and Pershore – is during Christmas.

Each week until Christmas Eve we have turned the spotlight on the expert service and terrific value offered by one our independent traders.

The Journal has also promoted Christmas events and general festivities in the town as part of the campaign, which has been a hit with people in the town.

Kim Dunn, owner of Bonk in Port Street and the chairman of the Real Evesham traders group, said anything that promoted business in the town was a good thing.

"Anything like this is good for the town," she said. "It helps traders and shoppers and anything helping the town get back on its feet then I am all for it.

"I have used the hashtag Very Evesham quite a bit on Twitter and Facebook. It's doing the best for the town.

"Anything like this, these campaigns, is great."

Deputy editor of the Evesham Journal, John Wilson, said he was proud to be able to support the town.

"As a local newspaper we are here to support Evesham," he said. "The Very Evesham campaign has done just that, we have promoted businesses in the town and we will carry on supporting Evesham the best we can."