A campaign encouraging residents to support their local businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic is to be extended across West Dunbartonshire.

Spearheaded by Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce, the “Loves Local” campaign will continue in and around seven locations following the success of the initiative. They also got renewed funding from Scottish Towns Partnerships backed by the Scottish Government.

Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive and Project Manager Damon Scott said: "The Loves Local campaign has been helping hundreds of Dunbartonshire businesses by encouraging local people to Choose Local to support our local enterprises.

"This new funding will help us continue the promotion of our wonderful town and village centres, spread the word about the fantastic goods and services on offer locally and promote the use of the new Loves Local gift card.

"On the back of feedback from our Loves Local surveys, a multi-level marketing campaign will take in social media, PR and local advertising as well as the ongoing creation of more online digital content.

"We also plan to make improvements to all of the town and village websites, add jobs boards and build the business and events listings.

"The support and engagement from our local businesses has been amazing and a number of them have been instrumental in providing thousands of pounds of matched funding to support our latest Loves Local application."

Dunbartonshire Chamber set up the Loves Local campaign to promote the "choose local" message across a number of locations in East and West Dunbartonshire including Alexandria and the Vale of Leven, Balloch, Dumbarton, Clydebank, Bearsden and Bishopbriggs.

Milngavie Business Improvement District (BID), which has been a partner in Loves Local, has also been awarded additional funding to continue its participation in the campaign.

Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce and Milngavie BID were also recently shortlisted for the inaugural Scotland Loves Local Awards in recognition of their collaborative efforts to encourage people to back businesses and services in their community.