A festive shopping week will start next week in Downham Market to encourage townspeople to further support their local shops.

There are already more than 40 retailers who have signed up for the shopping week, with some businesses offering excellent discounts.

The festive event will will run from Monday, November 29 to Monday, December 6 and it is the first time that traders in the market town have joined forces to host a shopping week.

There will also be the chance for a few lucky shoppers – of any age – to win �100, �65 and �35 in vouchers by taking part in a treasure hunt looking for Christmas logos in shop windows.

Jane Harper (pictured), from Accounting Controls, based in the High Street, is looking forward to the festive week. She said: 'It is great that we have got so many businesses involved and I am looking forward to an exciting week in the town.

'I think it's something that other towns should be looking at doing to get people together in these difficult times.

'Traders joining forces is far better than one shop trying to do something like this on their own and Downham Market has shown true community spirit getting this week organised.'

Maureen Hibling, who runs fabric shop Sew Inn, added: 'We are very conscious of the fact that there are people who live in Downham Market but don't come into the town to shop.

'We are proud of the number of independent retailers we have in the town and everyone is pulling together for this shopping week.'

For more information visit www.downhamweb.co.uk