Shoppers are being urged to support local businesses as the countdown to Christmas begins in earnest.

West Lancashire Borough Council and DiscoverOrmskirk.com are supporting Small Business Saturday UK on 2 December 2017, a national campaign to encourage people to shop local and support small businesses. The lifeblood of our economy, small businesses are a big part of what makes our towns and villages such unique and appealing places to live, shop and work.

The first weekend of December is one of the busiest shopping times of the year, when our towns, villages and markets are bustling with activity. Small Business Saturday is a great opportunity to support and celebrate the quality of our small businesses and all that they bring to our local economy in West Lancashire.

Councillor Ian Moran, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Economic Regeneration, said: “We are delighted to support Small Business Saturday and celebrate our much-loved small businesses. With Christmas lights casting a festive glow and creating a wonderful atmosphere in many of our local towns there won’t be a nicer place to shop. Supporting small businesses fits in with a key priority of the Council Plan for the authority to be ambitious for the local economy, and to retain and grow jobs.”

With a number of new shops having recently opened in Ormskirk town centre including Blue Lily Fashion boutique and Hayes Travel, it’s a great time to visit the town.

Helen Suarez owner of Hello Baby Ormskirk said: "I am supporting the Small Business Saturday campaign and would encourage people to shop local and support small businesses, not just on Small Business Saturday but all year round, it is crucial to their survival as well as to our town centres."

To further encourage shoppers to come into Ormskirk, West Lancashire Borough Council is offering visitors to the town the chance to save money when using Council car parks in Ormskirk. From Friday 1 December 2017 to Saturday 23 December 2017 (inclusive), drivers who buy a pay and display ticket will receive an additional two hours free parking, free tickets do not qualify.

Motorists should check the car park is Council-controlled by checking the signage and that a valid paid for ticket is displayed accordingly. The two extra free hours will not be shown on the ticket. So, for example, if you buy a ticket at 10am for one hour's parking the ticket will still show an expiry time of 11am. However, during the special offer period, you will be able to park until 1pm.

Notices explaining the offer will be on display at the car parks. All car park attendants are aware of the offer and will allow for the extra two hours after the indicated ticket expiry time.

Parking will be free on council controlled car parks in Ormskirk town centre on Sunday 24 December, as it is on all other Sundays throughout the year.

If your business is running a special offer for Small Business Saturday, DiscoverOrmskirk.com will add your offer to their business page, to find out more visit: www.DiscoverOrmskirk.com/business.

For more information on how the Council supports businesses visit: www.westlancs.gov.uk/business.