Three towns across East Cambridgeshire will be encouraging residents to visit the small businesses and independent retailers in their highstreets as part of a national incentive, Small Business Saturday.

This year Ely, Soham and Littleport’s Town teams will be embracing the day, which is held annually on the first Saturday of every month.

Visit Ely will be running a week-long Facebook campaign to raise awareness for the day, featuring competitions, quizzes and promotions concluding on 2 December.

The Soham Town Team will once again be running their ‘Spot the Alien’ window competition, and have been working hard to bring shops and businesses on board this year. The competition begins on Saturday 2nd December and runs until Tuesday 19 December when the winning entry will be announced at the Community Carols event at St Andrew’s Church at 6.30 pm.

Littleport Town Team is holding their annual Celebrate Christmas event on Small Business Saturday. Shops and businesses have been working together to co-ordinate this event to bring a festive community spirit to the heart of the town centre.  Activities include Father Christmas at Littleport Library, Christmas Fair at St George’s Church, a shop window Star Trail and Adams Community Market will be open. Musical entertainment and side stalls around the Christmas tree will provide plenty of variety for visitors.

Tracey Harding, project lead for all of the district’s town teams on behalf of East Cambridgeshire District Council said: “I am delighted that all three towns will be playing a part in Small Business Saturday again this year and that we have three completely different promotions running.  This is an excellent initiative that will raise awareness of our fabulous town centres and all that they have to offer particularly at this festive time of year”.

Now in its fifth year in the UK, Small Business Saturday is a national celebration of small businesses and companies and aims to encourage spending with small, independent firms across the UK.

For more information follow /visitely, /littleporttownteam and sohamtownteam on Facebook.