INDEPENDENT traders are to stage a fundraising coffee shop crawl to highlight a market town's unique range of retail outlets.

A group of eight businesswomen in Thirsk said as Cafe Nero was being launched in the Market Place and there was speculation over Costa Coffee establishing a branch in the town, alongside existing chain firms such as Greggs and Weatherspoons, they wanted to highlight the singular experiences the town offers.

Caroline Todd, of Thirsk-based marketing firm Hot Toddi, said visitors to the town, the economy of which relies heavily on the tourism, often headed straight to the familiar chain outlets.

She said: "In the independent cafes in Thirsk there is service like it was in the olden days, when people knew you, and for the people who run them it's not just a job, to them it's about the community.

"We want to keep the charm of Thirsk."

The group will dress up in red and visit seven independent coffee shops on Monday, October 20, and will collect donations towards Thirsk's Christmas lights, an appeal which chain outlets are often reluctant to contribute towards.