TAVISTOCK's Totally Locally campaign has this week received a boost, with news it has attracted a grant from the Portas Pilot-backed town team.

Totally Locally was officially launched last month, with the intention of encouraging people to think about where they do their shopping, and the effect their spending power has on the local economy.

Its first campaign was the 'Fiver Fest', in which local independent traders mounted special offers for a fiver over a two week period.

Rachel Harrison-French, who has spearheaded Totally Locally Tavistock, said: 'From the feedback we have been getting from traders, Fiver Fest was a real success, and certainly the take-up in terms of traders, I think we've had more than in many other Totally Locally towns.

'Certainly for the first time of doing it, we have been delighted with the way it went.'

Totally Locally has been granted a minimum of £2,000 from the Tavistock Town Team — in addition to spending the money on promotional materials for its next campaign, the group will now be able to offer its re-usable shopping bags for a discounted rate of £1 for a limited period.

The bags are available to buy from Treasured Forever, Pebbles, Continental Fruits, Here and Far and Encore.

Any other town businesses who would like to stock the bags on a sale or return basis can obtain supplies from Treasured Forever.

Rachel said the bags were locally sourced and Totally Locally was very grateful to the town team, plus Tavistock BID, the chamber of commerce and town council which helped fund them originally.

'Also, Dartmoor Photographic have been absolutely fantastic and they are producing them for less than cost price,' said Rachel.

'It's a great example of a local business getting on board with the Totally Locally message and doing something for their town.'

Rachel said the next promotion was likely to be a 'Magic Tenner' exercise, which reinforces the message that every £10 spent in an independent shop generates up to £50 being invested in the local economy. A community event is also being planned.

And she stressed how grateful the group was to all the business and organisations were were backing Totally Locally.

'We have been so lucky with all the support — it's fantastic,' she said.

Tavistock town councillor and deputy mayor John Sheldon, who is chairman of the Tavistock Town Team, said: 'Totally Locally were unanimously supported by the town team — their work obviously fitted the brief for the Portas Pilot funding, we know they had a successful launch and we are expecting them to continue with the good work they have already done in the town.'