Retailers and residents have joined forces to market Malmesbury in a bid not to be overshadowed as supermarket giants look to open stores in the town.

Shopkeepers, the chamber of commerce and a residents’ association will be launching a Think Local, Buy Local scheme at the late-night shopping event tomorrow night.

One of the many stalls in the town centre will be selling raffle tickets offering vouchers and products, raising money for a marketing campaign that will work to promote the town and its businesses.

Aimee Frankham, who owns Amano Tailors, said: “The supermarkets coming in has highlighted the fact that Malmesbury needs to market itself as a unit.

“Some small traders either can’t afford to be members of national organisations (such as the Small Businesses Federation) or they don’t have the time, and it causes the town, in affect, to be splintered because these organisations will only really spend funds on their members.

“But the fact that supermarkets are coming in shows that the town needs to promote itself affectively so a group of businesses and individuals have come together to try to drive the plan to promote the town.

“It’s a successful town centre; it works well and people don’t like change.

“We want to do something that benefits the whole town and you don’t have to be a member to benefit from it.”

Tickets will be sold for £1 per strip from tomorrow night until Friday December 16 when the prize draw will be announced.

It’s hoped the scheme will encourage more people in to the town and will generate enough funds to get a marketing campaign off the ground to advertise and promote its businesses.

Sainsbury’s and Waitrose supermarkets have shown an interest in moving to the town, although plans for either development are still in the consultation phase.

Chamber of Commerce member Ruth Jeffrey, who co-runs Malmesbury.com with husband Justin, is also behind the project.

She said: “Malmesbury is a town with amazing variety and we wanted to do something to promote the businesses.

“The thing about Malmesbury is that it is full of everyday shops so it really serves its community and that’s what we are trying to promote about it.

“It’s the first opportunity for the residents’ association and chamber of commerce have taken to work together on something like this.

“It makes perfect sense for them to work together much more closely.”