Independent traders have joined forces online in a bid to boost trade in their town.

A deli, a butcher, a baker, a wholefood store and a farm shop have teamed up to launch Downham Fayre.

As well as offering delivery within a five mile radius of Downham, the site is open 24/7, meaning those who work out of time can still support their local shops.

Freddie Baker, who runs Freddie's Deli, said: 'There are a lot of people who commute who don't have the time to shop in Downham Market. They leave early and they come back late. If you look down the High Street, there's seven empty shops; what does that tell you?'

In addition to Freddie's, the site also offers meats from T&M Butchers, produce from the Windmill farm Shop, breads and flours from Denver Mill and wholefoods from Shire Foods.

As well as delivering to outlying villages, the van makes deliveries to the station, so commuters can collect goods they have ordered on their way home after they get off their train.

Businesswoman Jane Harper, who set up the site with Downham-based IT firm Anglia Computer Systems, started off by writing recipes online, which used locally-sourced produce.

'It's aimed at all local food shoppers, particularly the people who commute each day and can't get to the local shops; also the elderly who may prefer to have their shopping delivered,' she said.

'The local high street has been hit hard in recent years and needs to look to other ways of marketing.

'This collaboration can give the local high street an additional lift by joining forces and working together.'

Miss Harper believes other market towns could benefit from a similar scheme.