SMALL businesses across the borough including those in Basingstoke’s Top of The Town area took full advantage of Small Business Saturday, enjoying a pre-Christmas boost.

The event, on December 7, was part of a Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council promotion to highlight the Government initiative.

The first ever UK wide event designed to recognise small businesses and encourage people to shop local and support small businesses, retailers and not-for-profit organisations proved to be a huge success with over 50 businesses in the Top of The Town alone taking part.

Deputy Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Councillor Ranil Jayawardena said: “I’m really pleased that Small Business Saturday was such a success and the council’s promotion helped draw attention to what our small businesses have to offer.

“For the Top of The Town area, initiatives like this can really help and we are hoping to support more events in 2014 as part of our Town Centre Programme.”

To help increase footfall and raise awareness of local businesses, the council ran a prize draw run in partnership with Destination Basingstoke and the local Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). More than 800 shoppers who spent over £5 before 7pm each day in participating small businesses between 7 - 14 December had the chance to enter and win over £1,000 worth of prizes.

Some of the lucky winners are:

• Katie Hales, who won a Truly Scrumptious pamper package and vouchers worth £350

• Nicola Fazackerley, who won a £130 Basing cycles voucher

• David Renn who won a £120 voucher for dinner for four and champagne at The Limeleaf

• Alison Devine who won a- £100 voucher for The Secret Garden

• Jenny Little who won a £50 Anvil Arts voucher with champagne

• Bill Helyar, who won afternoon tea for two at The Tea Bar with a bottle of bubbly

• Shaun Mabbot, who won a £40 voucher for Oliver’s Fish Restaurant