Council aims to help local shops with Christmas ad

The advert puts the spotlight on a range of small businesses

A council has taken a leaf out of the high street giants' book by releasing a Christmas advert to encourage people to shop local.

North Northamptonshire Council's commercial portrays a shopper visiting various independent high street shops in the county.

David Brackenbury, the Conservative-controlled council's executive member for growth and regeneration said the authority was "conscious that times can be quite hard for local businesses".

The BBC has approached the authority for details of how the advert was funded.

The commercial is part of the council's "Hi Street" campaign which is seeking to encourage people to "step away from online scrolling and discover the magic of the high street."

The council's website said the campaign had been "made possible" by the government's UK shared prosperity fund.

A local choir's rendition of Carol of the Bells provides the advert's musical backing track

Among the businesses included in the advert are Jollys Toys in Thrapston, The Oundle Bookshop and Bosworth's Garden Centre in Burton Latimer.

The online ad is soundtracked by a rendition of Carol of the Bells performed by Kettering choir The Songbirds.

Mr Brackenbury said: "We're all searching to spend our money wisely and there's a lot of competition from the internet.

"What we want to do is promote the fantastic local businesses we have up and down the towns and villages of north Northamptonshire.

"There are lots of interesting surprises and incentives to go out there and shop locally."

He said local businesses were crucial to providing jobs and services in the county.