A ‘virtual high street’ has been set up to promote businesses in Porthleven during lockdown.

Locals and visitors are being encouraged to offer support via a new Facebook page set up to bring together the different takeaway options, online stores and Christmas gift ideas available from independent Porthleven retailers.

The Porthleven Virtual High Street page will be a one-stop shop for customers to find information on what’s still open in Porthleven, as well as links to how to support the many independent businesses in the port who’ve had to close but are still available online.

It’s the brainchild of local copywriter and communications adviser Suzie Inman of Mightier Words, who ran the Porthleven Food Festival’s virtual event and woke up with a desire to help her local community.

“I just felt compelled to do something to help all the traders who are having to close for a second time,” Suzie said. “Work is pretty quiet for me and I just thought I could help by using my skills in this area.

“I feel like many of us are keen to support local, but it’s not always easy to find the different ways to do that.

“The aim of the page is to share details and links from individual businesses that you can scroll through, as well as regular round-ups of what’s open in different sectors and available online.

“I’m also hoping to run virtual events around traditionally busy times like Black Friday on November 27. I’d hope this might also provide a place for a virtual high street beyond lockdown, too.”

Suzie hopes that the page will not only see locals supporting their own, but also that those who choose Porthleven as a destination.

“We know there are people across the country who love Porthleven as much as those of us lucky enough to live here and we’re aiming to share this far and wide in the hope that these people can get involved too.

“We have such a brilliant, vibrant set of independent traders in Porthleven and the community vibe here is amazing, but the reality is that the supermarkets and online retailers like Amazon will survive this, but smaller local traders really need our support, particularly as they’re losing a lot of their Christmas trading period.”

You can access the page at www.facebook.com/shopporthleven/ and businesses who operate in Porthleven can post their information on there or send to Suzie via suzie@mightier.co.uk