DILYS the sheep has been touring businesses over the past month as part of a scheme to encourage people to shop locally.

Arloesi Gwynedd Wledig has been helping Dilys travel around businesses in Gwynedd, which sarted at Glosters in Porthmadog.

Every business nominates another local business that they use, which shows followers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that the money they spend in a local business stays local.

The project aims to showcase the many reasons why shopping locally is important.

According to Arloesi Gwynedd Wledig, research has shown that for every £1 spent in a small to medium business, 63p stays in the local economy compared with only 40p which stays when shoppers go to a large business.

Organisers say the scheme also supports the Welsh language.

At Igam Ogam hair salon in Criccieth, one of the owners, Anwen Jones, said: “The staff at Igam Ogam speak Welsh, and we’re very proud of that. It’s very important that our customers can explain what they want in the language they’re most comfortable in. This ensures our customers are happy with their hair and come back to us time after time.”

At Gwin Llyn Wines, a wine shop in Pwllheli, Dean Pritchard, the shop owner, said: “It makes a huge difference trying something before you buy. It’s very unlikely you’ll get the opportunity to pop open a bottle of wine in the supermarket aisle, and impossible if buying online.”

The project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. It’s also part funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and Gwynedd Council.

If you’d like to take part in the project contact Rhian on 01766 514057 or [email protected]