HARPENDEN: A new initiative to promote the town’s independent shops, cafés, bars and restaurants has been launched in the run-up to Christmas.

The aim is to promote their businesses using a Facebook site entitled Harpenden Christmas Shopping at www.facebook.com/HarpendenChristmasShopping

Instigated by The Harpenden Society, the initiative covers retailers, bars, cafés, and restaurants in Harpenden and Southdown.

The Facebook scheme will allow local residents to log on and easily access information about Christmas offers in Harpenden.

It will be updated weekly until Christmas Eve to provide local residents with up-to-the-minute news on Christmas offers.

A number of local traders will be opening on Sundays up to Christmas, details of which can be found on the Harpenden Society website www.harpendensociety.org and the Harpendia web site www.harpendia.com