THIS weekend sees the annual Small Business Saturday event, and more than 100 local shops are taking part.

The UK wide initiative aims to encourage shoppers to visit their local high streets instead of chain stores and out-of-town retailers.

More than 100 businesses throughout Barry and Vale of Glamorgan will be putting on deals, offers and events to help shoppers make the most of their local shops and hopefully decide to turn every Saturday into a Small Business Saturday.

Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns has visited every single participating shop in the area in advance of Small Business Saturday to lend his support.

Mr Cairns met with traders in Barry, Llantwit, Cowbridge and Dinas Powys to encourage shoppers to use their local shops on what will be one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

“Small businesses are vital part of the Vale of Glamorgan," he said. "The first Small Business Saturday took place in 2013, since then businesses in Barry and across the Vale have benefitted from recognition of the contribution they make tour towns and villages.

"It is a real shot in the arm for smaller, independent traders to welcome local customers. This year I am encouraging local residents to take part in the campaign for the big day on Saturday.”

Mr Cairns visited the traders across the Vale to raise awareness of the nationwide cross party campaign created to support the five million small businesses in Britain that fill our high streets.

Now entering its third year, 16.5 million people shopped in a small independent business in 2014, contributing more than £500 million in one day to local businesses.