PEOPLE are being encouraged to shop local tomorrow.

Small Business Saturday is a campaign that drums up support for smaller, independent businesses.

The #SmallBizSatUK campaign trended at number one in the UK on Twitter during 2017, reaching over 115 million people globally. The Prime Minister and the Mayor of London were among those supporting the campaign.

So here are six reason why you should shop local tomorrow.

1. Your spending will help the local economy: Research by local authorities shows that for every £1 spent with a small or medium-sized business 63p stayed in the local economy, compared with 40p with a larger business.

2. It is good for the environment: Buying out-of-season produce such as strawberries in December means food has to travel further, with all the pollution associated with transportation. When you shop at local butchers, bakers, farm shops and greengrocers, much of the produce is likely to have had a short field-to-fork journey. Along with supporting local farmers, it means the food is likely to contain more goodness and less packaging.

3. They sell interesting one-off gifts: Independent shops often stock products that are made locally and aren't available elsewhere, making your gift more likely to be a pleasant surprise.

4. You will be supporting British entrepreneurs: Smaller markets help foster the talents of the next generation of British designers and retailers. There is a constant turnover of new products and producers listen to customers' feedback.

5. You might get a better deal and good advice: Local traders often throw in extras for regulars, and and market stallholders are often ready to negotiate on prices. They are often experts in the goods and services they sell, and can give you the time and attention that larger retailers often cannot.

6. You can try before you buy: You cannot sample what interests you in a supermarket or shopping mall or online shop, so it is easy to waste money on things you end up not liking. But at independent retailers, it's easier to ask to sample a product and drop into one of their frequent tasting events.