BRENTWOOD will celebrate Independents’ Day tomorrow and Saturday with an array of activities to mark the occasion.

The High Street and surrounding road will be buzzing with entertainment and and fun for all ages.

Independents' Day is a national campaign that promotes and celebrates independent businesses across the UK. Now in its fourth year, the campaign has quickly become the voice of independent retailers to reach the local community who would like to support their local businesses.

Tomorrow (Friday, July 4) is the official day but Brentwood will mark the occasion on Saturday to make it widely available to those who can’t make due to work and school.

As part of the festivities, Maisy Mouse will be at Chicken and Frog in Ongar Road. She will be entertaining children at the shop at about 10.30am, before going to Brentwood Library in New Road, at approximately 11am and giving out balloons from Balloon Boutique in Ongar Road.

She will also be at Mi Nemi baby boutique in Ongar Road at 12.30pm, Crown Street at 1.30pm and Brentwood Kitchen on Wilson’s Corner, Ingrave Road from 2.30pm.

Other activities will include children’s mascots and characters around High Street and King Road, hosted by Harlequin Fancy Dress and Party Shop; author and illustrator Yasmeen Ismail will be at the Chicken and Frog in Ongar Road from 11am-3pm and a Disney Princess will be visiting from 3pm.

Visitors will be able to grab a bargain in Crown Street where the boutique shops will be offering special discounts throughout the day and there will be entertainment. There will also be a chance to win an exclusive yellow duck from Joey Essex’s shop Fusey in a ‘hook a duck’ competition.

The Mayor of Brentwood, Councillor Vicky Davies will also be visiting and showing her support for local businesses.

Councillor David Kendall, chair of the town centre committee, said: “Our unique small and independent businesses are the lifeline of our high streets throughout the Borough and they help make us different.

“For every £1 you spend in local shops, between 50p-70p will circulate back into the local economy. So I’m encouraging shoppers to support the Independents’ Day campaign and go to your local High Street in the Borough.

“You can see what the shops have on offer and maybe have a little break from shopping by having a coffee and a cake in an independent café.”