YOUR community spirited Leighton Buzzard Observer is throwing its full weight behind the I Love LB Group's campaign to bring a flood of shoppers back into Leighton.

The group made up of the town's retailers has welcomed us on board as the town's established newspaper with a history of supporting the town since 1861. Our offices are located in Bridge Street, just off the main shopping area.

Community friendly as ever, the LBO is promising the group maximum support and publicity for its events and promotions aimed at bringing more shoppers back to our town centre.

Having been at the heart of Leighton for nearly 150 years makes us the number one local newspaper and we want to boost the town's vibrancy even more.

Our town centre has already shown good signs of a revival with more national chains looking to rub shoulders with the independent retailers on the High Street.

Boots and Woolworths have always been very busy stores. A new success has been the Ask Restaurant and now Wilkinson will be opening at the end of October. Costa Coffee are making plans to open next door to WH Smith.

There is, however, so much more to our town. Small independents, some hidden away down the town's alleys, that really cry out for recognition because there are many unique gifts and every day items just waiting to be snapped up.

With this in mind, we plan maximum coverage of the I Love LB Group's Christmas shopping weekend, plus a brand new column called Know Your Town featuring an independent retailer every week. Our aim is to change negative ideas about shopping in Leighton to a positive realisation that there is so much retail therapy to be had here!

There will also be some exciting projects scheduled for 2009 including a free giveaway to loyal Leighton shoppers.

n First up in the Know Your Town spotlight is market trader Adrian Wise who has awarded a local shopper with a 15-inch LCD TV worth £150 for being loyal to our town.

Adrian from Adrian Wise Blinds has been doing his bit to draw people into the town's market every Saturday.

For the past four weeks, everyone who purchased a blind from his stall was entered into a prize draw to win a TV. He now plans to run the competition every three months.

This week the first winner was drawn (from an I Love LB bag) by former town mayor Cllr Adam Fahn.

Regular shopper Ros Luxford from Stewkley, was selected and collected her prize on Saturday morning.

Adrian said: "I've been here for nearly three years and enjoy the atmosphere at this family orientated market and wanted to bring some excitement to the stall by offering a little thank you to all my customers."

Ian Dillamore representing the I Love LB group said: "Adrian is a new I Love LB member which strengthens our links to the market and he brings vibrancy to the town with competitions like this."

If you are an independent retailer here in Leighton-Linslade and would like to feature in our regular Know Your Town column then email sarah.holmes@lbobserver.co.uk, call (01525) 858406 or come and see us - we're in the heart of the town at 17 Bridge Street.