THE fishmonger behind a campaign to get people using local shops in Pocklington said his business had been saved by a surge in customers.

Guy Scott, 44, owner of Scott’s Fishmongers, launched the initiative last month after he and other businesses in the area became concerned at the loss of customers to supermarkets in the town.

Before he began his poster campaign, Mr Scott said things were so bad he was no longer taking a wage from his business, but now he and other shops had noticed an increase in footfall.

“It’s always a struggle running a small business, but the campaign has helped,” he said. “People are saying the campaign is right and we do need to support local business.”

“If it wasn’t for the extra money coming in through the campaign I would now be in a position where I couldn’t afford to pay the bills.”

The boost comes despite many local pubs reducing the amount of fish they ordered as they brought out menus with a more festive feel, which could have had a devastating effect on trade.

However, Mr Scott, who has run his business for 24 years, said he had received a record number of customer orders for Thursday and Friday last week – more than double the same period last year.

Mr Cox began his battle in November with a poster campaign throughout Pocklington and a meeting of local traders and customers.

Following the strong start he is now hoping other shop owners in the town will join him in holding a regular “thank-you day”, where businesses would provide a day of discounts to bring in the customers.

He said: “If we all have the same arrangement on the same day, people might come from outside Pocklington. We want to offer people a bargain and say we appreciate their business.”