Published: November 23, 2012
Christmas shopping crawl competition to launch in Burnham-On-Sea

A Christmas shopping crawl competiton is set to be launched in Burnham-On-Sea this weekend in which a prize can be won for visiting the town's independent traders.

The initiative will be launched during Saturday's Christmas Lights switch-on in Burnham High Street by the Chamber of Trade and Town Team.

The contest is part of a nationwide 'Celebrate an Independent Christmas' campaign that aims to increase the number of shoppers in High Streets across the UK during the all-important Christmas period.

Those taking part in Burnham's Shopping Crawl will need to collect a map from participating stores which lists the shops that need to be visited.

At each shop the crawl map is checked and validated, and, upon achieving the qualifying criteria it is entered into a prize draw to win a hamper crammed full of Somerset products.

The participating shops in Burnham are easy to spot by the posters prominently displayed in their windows.

Linda Bullimore, pictured above, who is co-ordinating the project, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "The Town Team are thrilled by the response from the town's traders - 34 have signed up and are ready to welcome customers to their shops."

Steve Wright from SeaFoods, an award-winning fishmonger in the heart of Burnham, said: "Initiatives like the Indie Shop Crawl are great in the run-up to Christmas. We are hoping to encourage a higher footfall into the town centre, build some new relationships with shoppers and hopefully convert them into regulars."

Rhonda Mills, owner of Sea Breeze and a spokesperson for the Chamber of Trade, added: "I fully support the Indie Shop Crawl. Many people have forgotten the great range of products available in their town centres and Christmas is a lovely time of the year to rediscover them."

The draw for the hamper will take place after the closing date of December 24th.

Pictured: Linda Bullimore, who is co-ordinating the project in Burnham