INDEPENDENT traders in Cheltenham are taking a novel step to encourage shoppers through their doors.

A new 'coffee table' style book will be produced to give the one-off shops in the town a chance to shine.

Wendy Ellyatt, chairman of Cheltenham Connect, is leading the project with the help of a small publishing company called Think Locally.

"A little publishing company in Oxford started it off and somebody gave me one of the books," she said.

"I had been planning on creating a trade directory for Cheltenham Connect, but I thought this was so much better than anything else I had seen."

About 20 shops, mainly in the independent hot-spots of Montpellier and The Suffolks, have signed up.

There are about 100 independents in South Cheltenham alone.

Wendy said: "We need about 80 to join in to get the book published. It is such beautiful quality with lovely sepia photos.

"It is perfect for Cheltenham as it is somewhere where independent trading is still such a major part of the town."

She added: "It is still very unusual to find such a range of locally-run shops."

She aims to have the book completed by October.

Each shop has its own page which features a picture to capture its style.

Phil James, from White Room Images in The Suffolks, has agreed to oversee all the photography.

Shops can sign up for one, two or four pages.

Wendy said: "The images really sell the shops and make the difference. A lot of the traders say this will be a good way to show off their businesses."

About 10,000 copies will be printed and everybody involved will have 50 free copies to give out to customers or clients. They will sell for £4.95. Suzi Hounam-Brooker, owner of Milly B in Great Norwood Street, said the book will prove Cheltenham is not a "faceless" town.

"It is ultimately all adverts but they are ads you want to read and so beautiful. When I saw the Oxford book I read the whole thing from cover to cover," she said.

Suzi opened her gift shop in July last year and sells a range of jewellery, gifts and homeware, sourced from all over the world.

She said: "Everyone in Great Norwood Street is so friendly and there is a real community here, not just a faceless town. Cheltenham has got multiples but there are a huge amount of independents and this will really give us a boost."

Any Cheltenham traders who want to join the Think Locally campaign can see some of the ideas at http://thinklocally.viewbook.com.

To sign up call Wendy on 01242 572803 or email wendyellyatt@thinklocally.com.