PEOPLE in Otley and Yeadon are being urged to buy local to help support recovery in the two towns.

Lucy Nuttgens, Labour’s candidate for the ward in the city council elections, said: "Next time you need to buy something, put your computer down and ask yourself if you can buy what you want locally. You will be surprised what’s available from kitchen supplies to electronics and locally produced food."

She believes that the recovery of Otley town centre and Yeadon high street will only happen if each family asks themselves if they can make a difference. She is convinced that if everyone goes back to behaving as they did before the pandemic the town centres will wither and die.

Ms Nuttgens said if every person in Otley spent £1 more a week in the town centre that would equate to an extra £50,000 a month going into the local economy. And Yeadon High Street would benefit from an additional £30,000 per month.

She said: "Now more than ever there needs to be a partnership between councils and businesses. Both Leeds and Otley councils have huge opportunities to reach into their communities. I want them to use their websites and publications to promote the idea of 'local is good for you'."

She said she had been stunned by the energy and enthusiasm of both shoppers and businesses as lockdown receded.

“We need to capture and bottle the great feeling we have generated and make it last” she stressed.

She pledged to try to bring the city and town councils together, adding: “ Let’s move from sniping about problems to solving problems. I am about building bridges not creating division.”