Independent shops have joined together in lockdown to ensure their customers don't miss out and to help keep businesses buoyant.

The lockdown is a blow for shops which had just been picking themselves up after the first lockdown and are having to shut their doors again until early December, missing out of four weeks of vital trade in the run-up to Christmas.

But Bridport’s unique independent businesses have come up with some creative ways for people to keep on shopping.

Along with website and social media channels some businesses now take orders by telephone or email. Rules for the November lockdown allow click and collect for retailers who can’t open.

Meanwhile, the Lighting Centre, Opal on South Street, Instant redress on East Street and ink & page on West Allington have set up 'window shopping' so customers can browse on their daily walk and telephone to arrange payment and collection or delivery.

Online ordering is offered by a range of businesses including The Bridport Bookshop, The Decorator Centre, Babygear, the Trading Post, Malabar, Footeprints, Fruits of The Earth and Groves.

Others, like Bridport Yarn, Chilli by The Sea and Essence Lingerie offer telephone or email ordering.

Essential food and drink businesses staying open, such as Bella’s and Café Bean on South Street and Red Brick Café on St Michael’s Trading Estate, continue to offer ordering and collection with producers like the Dorset Nectar farm shop also offering free doorstep delivery for all orders in West Dorset.

Even market stalls such as Oleo Bodycare and A Bit of Everything are offering contact free buying. Essential businesses will be trading throughout lockdown at Bridport Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays and The Farmer’s Market on Barrack Street this Saturday.

Facebook and Instagram pages have up-to-the minute information such as opening times and contact options.

For a list of businesses offering shopping opportunities see below.

Businesses are coming together as 'Team Bridport' under the banner of the Totally Locally grass roots marketing campaign. It was behind the Fiver Fest initiative earlier in the autumn.

Kim Squirrell, community champion for Totally Locally Bridport, urges shoppers to ‘give your local shop a call before reaching for Amazon or other big online outlets'.

She added: "Our businesses have stocked up ready for the gift giving season and closure throughout November is going to pack a punch.

"We can soften the blow if we maintain our support. Although it’s always going to be better to visit bricks and mortar shops the next best thing is to buy remotely."

In an effort to make distance shopping easier in the future Totally Locally Bridport is hoping to join other Totally Locally towns in opening a Bridport shop where purchases from a range of local businesses can be checked out in one shopping cart with one transaction.

The team are talking to shopkeepers in the pilot town of Hebden Bridge to see if the idea is a good fit for Bridport. To get involved email totallylocallybridport@gmail.com

Here’s just some of Bridport’s independent businesses offering buying opportunities during lockdown

SHOPS

The Bookshop: order online dorsetbooks.com or phone 01308 422964. Local delivery to people shielding. 10am - 2pm, Monday - Saturday.

Chill By The Sea: Call and collect Weds and Saturdays 11am-4pm 01308 425385 or order by email info@chillibythesea.co.uk www.chillibythesea.co.uk

Opal: window shopping with shop front collection on Wednesdays and Saturdays - or pay online at www.opaldorset.co.uk.

Naturalife: Open 9am-5pm with deliveries to anyone within 5 miles of the shop (for spends £20 or over)

Waste Not Want Not: Order online for collection or volunteer delivery. Open (subject to change): Tues, Weds, Fri, Sat: 10:30 until 2:30. www.wastenotwantnotbridport.co.uk

The Trading Post: Click and Collect service and new Shopify page: trading-post-bridport.myshopify.com e mail: Thetradingpost74@outlook.com Phone: 07970359775 or 01308425271.

Malabar Trading Shop online at www.malabartrading.com

Order by email info@malabartrading.com or phone: 01308 425734. Open for local click & collect 10am-12noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturday or postal delivery to any address.

Livingstone Textiles: Order via the website, phone or email to Click and Collect. Payment in advance by card only, with a 15 minute time slot for collection.

Lavender Blue Flowers Open for contactless deliveries. Orders to be placed over the phone 01308 459145 or via email lavenderblueflowers@hotmail.co.uk

Bridport Yarn: Call & Collect 01308 455669 info@bridportyarn.co.uk free delivery or post

Bridport Lighting Centre: window shopping phone and Collect Tel: 01308 422318 free delivery within 5 miles of Bridport. email info@ bridportlighting.co.uk

Leakers: open 7am-3pm Weekdays and 6-2 Saturdays. Also, in the open air! We’ll be continuing markets Dorchester (Wednesdays) and Axminster (Thursdays) markets through lockdown

Ink & page: Real Window Shopping! 1. Choose your item and call us to pay and arrange collection from the doorway. Weds, Fri or Sat 10 am -5 pm. Free local delivery.

Tel: 07425 163459 email kim@inkandpage.co.uk

Dorset Nectar Farm shop open Mon-Sat 10-6pm We are also offering Free Doorstep Delivery for all orders in West Dorset. www.dorsetnectar.co.uk

The Decorator Centre www.thedecoratorcentre.co.uk

Footeprints: Fulfilling orders info@footeprint.co.uk order photo prints and photo gifts online: www.pictureprinting.co.uk info@footeprint.co.uk

Groves: click and collect www.grovesnurseries.co.uk

Fruits of the Earth Fill out the online shopping list and pay by telephone. www.fruitsoftheearth.co.uk

Baby Gear: click and collect and local delivery www.babygearbridport.co.uk

Instant Redress: Window Shopping with payment and collection by email: instantredress13@gmail.com

Essence Bridport Distance selling with free local delivery or postage. essencebridport@gmail.com

Jenny Penney Artist of Sculpted landscapes Open Tues- Weds 11am - 3.30pm

Cupboard/Window Shop and collect by appointment. Phone: 07711 460372

MARKET STALLS

Oleo Bodycare: order online www.oleobodycare.co.uk Collection from Yarn in South Street Or telephone: 07950 029607 collection from Bridport. 10% discount on all orders during lockdown and free delivery to DT6 addresses.

A Bit of Everything cards mugs, coasters and cushions: order and collection or delivery by Tel: 07443 490378 or email: abitofeverythingsales@hotmail.com

*Markets will be running with essential businesses. Bridport Market (Wednesdays and Saturdays) and the Farmer's Market (every second Saturday of the month on Barrack Street 9am-2pm).

FOOD OUTLETS

Bella’s open 9am-2pm

Café Bean open 9am- 4pm

The Red Brick Café: Wed-Sat 10am-2pm and evenings Fri-Sat 6.30-7.30

Prohibition Pizza Club: Pizza hotline: 07546 620226 wood fired pizza delivery Thurs-Sun 5pm-9pm

*Essential local businesses and advice can be found on Bridport Town council website: www.bridport-tc.gov.uk/coronavirus/