UMCA and Aberystwyth Students’ Union will be encouraging students to shop with local businesses throughout May.

The aim is to show the benefits of supporting local shops in Aberystwyth and students will be co-operating with local businesses in order to raise awareness of the offers that are available around town.

Welsh affairs officer and UMCA president, Rhun Dafydd, who thought of the idea, said: “The purpose of the campaign is to try and get more students shopping in town. I think it’s important for the university to support the town as the two are essential to help each other thrive and one of the aspects which makes Aberystwyth so unique is the variety of local shops in the town.”

Rhun added: “In a world which is becoming more and more capitalist, it’s important to care for your local area. There are many reasons why students should support the campaign, from environmental benefits to the moral aspect.

“Here are a few points on the campaign’s benefits: Contrary to the common belief, it’s possible to buy stuff much cheaper from local shops than from supermarkets and chain stores. You might be able to do a deal with a local shop and get your hands on special offers. We’ll show you the savings you can make by shopping locally."

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online on Wednesday