HARROW Council and the Harrow Times have joined forced to encourage residents in the borough to support their local shops and businesses.

The campaign, called Love Harrow Shop Local, is aimed at supporting businesses run by Harrow residents, focusing on what is available in local shopping parades and town centres, and offering tips and advice for struggling businesses.

The worldwide recession is having a big effect on businesses owners, and some make struggle to survive in the tough economic conditions.

Love Harrow Shop Local is a campaign to help beat the credit crunch and make sure our local shops continue to thrive and provide for the people of Harrow.

Councillor David Ashton, leader of the council, said launching the campaign: "The council has a role to try and stimulate the local economy when the going gets tough.

“We are therefore encouraging residents to shop locally to help businesses better cope with the recession.

"Residents will very often be able to get better quality products at lower prices from suppliers and traders based in the borough, so there is good incentive to support the campaign."

The council is now actively encouraging its staff to use local suppliers where possible, and the Harrow Times will be running a series of articles highlighting what is on offer from local shops and businesses.

Rachel Sharp, editor of the Harrow Times, said: “I am delighted to be launching the Love Harrow Shop Local campaign in partnership with Harrow Council.

"With the recession biting hard, it is more important than ever to support our local shops and businesses.

"By making use of the shops in our area, we can often get better value for money for ourselves. Buying your weekly fruit and veg from a local greengrocer means it is often cheaper, and better for the environment without all the packaging that big supermarkets use.

"But also, by readers getting involved and supporting the business and shops in their own streets, they will be helping to retain local jobs for our residents, and help to keep the economy of Harrow thriving through this difficult time."

Helping to launch the campaign are Harrow residents Gayan Perera and Kirsty Norman, who married on Valentines Day after a two-year romance.

The couple met while shopping in Harrow town centre and wanted to support their local businesses as they planned their wedding.

They married at Harrow Civic Centre and celebrated at the reception at Wealdstone Social Club surrounded by family and friends.

Kirsty said: “I was born and bred in Harrow so I wanted to make sure we celebrated the wedding here.

“The campaign sounds like a great way to encourage people to shop locally in the borough, especially in the current economic climate.”

Next week, the Harrow Times will be looking at shops and businesses in Wealdstone, which recently celebrated the reopening of the high street to traffic.

The area has been suffering for years with declining trade but it is hoped the traffic passing by will gradually bring shoppers back to Wealdstone.