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Abingdon community groups and shopkeepers are fighting back against recent negative media publicity. They want to publicise the wide range of shops available in the compact town centre. As well as the usual chains, Abingdon has over 40 independent shops including: gift and home decor shops, delicatessens, bookshops, a patisserie, a haberdashers and fabrics shop, a wool shop, children’s clothes and nursery equipment shops, florists, a stationers, outdoor and sports shops and many others. Parking in town is easy, with most car parks offering up to 3 hours for £1 and there are plenty of cafes and restaurants in which to recover from the shopping.

To encourage people to check out what is available over 30 shops and restaurants are running a “Spring into Abingdon” promotion from 17 to 31 May. Shoppers making purchases at participating shops and restaurants during this period will be able to enter a draw: top prize is £250 of shopping vouchers, with smaller prizes totalling at least another £250.

The start of the promotion coincides with Abingdon’s Spring Festival on Saturday 17 May: starting at 10.00am in the Market Place there will be plant stalls, entertainment and Morris dancing and the launch of the annual “Abingdon in Bloom” competition.

Entry cards will be obtainable from participating shops – which will be easily identified by posters in their windows.

“Spring into Abingdon” is an independent initiative but is supported by the Abingdon-on-Thames Chamber of Commerce.