THE Mayor of Came­lford, Brian Lush, and a good crowd attended the launch of the 'Swap a Shop' scheme at A1 Fruiterers, Camelford, on Monday.

The scheme asks members of the public to regularly swap one of their supermarket shops for a visit to their local independent store.

Most of the shops and businesses in Camelford are adopting the scheme in a united effort to survive during the current economic climate.

Julian Harman, proprietor of A1 Fruiterers, said: "The town has, in the past, suffered from many newsworthy events, such as the water poisoning, traffic congestion, pay and display, all of which have done very little to encourage people into the town, but against all this the local shops which are mainly sole traders have struggled to survive. Without such people and businesses, market towns like Camelford and the familiar High Street are threatened with extinction."

He explained that the town's shopkeepers are not asking the local shoppers to boycott the major supermarkets, they are just asking that they can cancel one supermarket trip per week or month and shop locally.

"We can offer free parking, savings on fuel (use less by not having to drive 10 to 15 miles to a supermarket) amongst many other special personal benefits you only get from your local shops."

Julian said the launch went well, and added: "We've had a good response all round. All businesses in the town are taking part."

To join the scheme, businesses simply have to display a poster or sticker in their window, at no cost to them whatsoever.

"It's just making people aware that they want local people to do a local shop now and again," he added. "We've had nobody say that they're against it, but some people still think supermarkets are cheaper."

However, Julian noted they have checked a number of item prices against supermarket prices, and often the small, independent shop is cheaper.

One example was with a five pound bag of Cornish potatoes. While the supermarket was selling them for £1.09, A1 Fruiterers has been selling the same for £0.70.

Julian said he can source some of his produce from growers between Camelford and Tintagel, which allows his customers to know exactly where their local produce is coming from.

Also, by sourcing the produce locally, Julian is helping the farmer pay his staff, who in turn will spend their wages locally, so some of the money will be pumped back into the local economy.

"We've got the whole town doing it together as a group. The town's united in keeping the High Street alive."