Tis' the season to...buy locally.

That's the call to residents from traders in Bridport as we approach Christmas.

They are encouraging people to think about buying their gifts from the town's independent businesses when doing their Christmas shopping and to support the festive markets being held on Saturdays in the run-up to the big day.

This Saturday, December 4 is Small Business Saturday, a campaign which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to 'shop local'.

To mark this, there will be free parking in all the council's car parks.

There's also the first of three Christmas markets in Barrack Street and the first of three visits in December by Santa on his sleigh to Bucky Doo Square where there will also be entertainment and music.

The Christmas markets, held on December 4 (charity and community market), December 11 (Christmas food & makers market) and December 18 (vegan and arts & crafts market) run from 9am-3pm and are kindly supported by McCarthy Stone.

Events are being pulled together under the Bridport Christmas Cheer banner and organiser Terri Foxwell said: “We want you all to have a fantastic Christmas so please remember when shopping to wear a mask while in shops, use the hand sanitisers and where possible remember the two-metre rule.”

Verity McKay, Divisional Marketing Manager at McCarthy Stone Southern, which has a retirement living development at Gordon Court, said: “We aim to support initiatives in the towns and communities in which we build that will help to create a lasting, positive legacy, such as the Bridport Christmas Cheer events. It is our pleasure to support this brilliant work within the local community.”