Shoppers and retailers in Swadlincote are being encouraged to get involved in a local launch for ShopAppy – a website that makes it easier for shoppers to support local retailers and enables independent shops to offer online sales, click-and-collect and home delivery services.

It is designed to help them to compete with the national retailers.

Already 37 Swadlincote businesses have signed up to the online service and several thousand shoppers have browsed the ShopAppy website.

The official launch, which starts on 28 May and continues until 31 May, will feature:

• Competitions with £25 ShopAppy vouchers to be won each day

• ShopAppy-branded giveaways

• Town Crier announcements and photo-opportunities

• A ShopAppy market stall on The Delph as part of Swadlincote Market on 28 May

•Social media promotion with participating businesses

There are hundreds of products available from Swadlincote retailers, from fruit and veg and craft beer, to jewellery and homewares.

It is hoped the official launch will raise awareness of the service and encourage more local shoppers to see what they are missing.

The dedicated Swadlincote page on ShopAppy can be found HERE where there are many familiar names from the High Street plus some surprises.

ShopAppy is backed by Visa and operates in over 140 towns across the country.

The introduction of ShopAppy to towns in Derbyshire is being supported by Derbyshire County Council and South Derbyshire District Council.

Councillor Steve Taylor, Chairman of South Derbyshire District Council Environment and Development Services Committee, said: "ShopAppy is a great service which encourages spending with local stores, showing loyalty to local retailers and supporting jobs and businesses in the town.

It is also great for people who are short of time or who struggle to get out but still want to support small businesses.

I hope that this launch brings ShopAppy to the attention of even more shoppers and contributes to a thriving local economy."