TOWNS in North Yorkshire are being encouraged to sign up to an online app to boost independent businesses.

Entrepreneur Jackie Mulligan is calling for independent businesses in Northallerton and Thirsk to join ShopAppy.com after talking about her venture on BBC’s The One Show.

Ms Mulligan’s business provides a new way to shop for people too busy to visit local shops during the week. Users enter their postcode into the website and are presented with shops near them that have registered with the app.

She launched the app last November in Saltaire and Otley and is now scaling up into new shopping areas.

Ms Mulligan said: “So many people have told me that Northallerton and Thirsk are perfect towns for ShopAppy.com.

“The website is now ready to support local shops.”