The Advertiser found out if people have been shopping locally for their Christmas presents this year

In its weekly voxpop, the Advertiser found out if people have been shopping locally for presents this Christmas.

The people we spoke to gave a wide variety of answers, with some people preferring bigger cities such as Nottingham or Lincoln, shopping online where they claim to be able to find everything they want and need in one place, or supporting their local businesses, be it chain or independent.

With just under two weeks left to Christmas, the rush to get the perfect Christmas present tightens and the stress increases, but the main question is where to get the perfect presents.

“I want to support the local shops because if we don’t support them we lose them,” said Ursula Clifton.

Lou McDonald said: “I like to buy local and keep shops open.

“For children and older children, I often go to New Mode which is really good, the wooden toy shop [Wood & Toys] is also really cute.”

Marcel Carlidge said: “Yes, generate money in the local economy, it is important to support your local businesses.

“As time goes on shops are getting less and less choices.”

His partner, Ruth Carlidge added: “There’s B&M on Northgate retail park and TK Max are really good, there’s not as many in the town centre but Asda is also a good one to look for presents.”

Ian Banes said: “People should come to the shops in the town centre and look after the shops here.

“But they are always moaning that there are no shops in the town and that is because they don’t use them.

“If you don’t use the town, you will lose it.”

Linda Warriner said that she has shopped locally because going online is “too much hassle”:

“The other end of town with all the retail parks has a lot of offer, so that is where I usually go.”

Abi Kelway said: “I think it important to shop local and support the independents but then again it isn’t always that easy to find what you want in town and that is way I also shop online.”

“There are not a lot of shops to shop here but there are a few lovely shops that are great as stocking fillings.

“Grace Gentle, we tend to go there and have a little look.

“We try to shop around here but this is why we also shop online or go to Nottingham.”

Pam Mamterfield said: “It is easier to find what I want online, with the prices that I want and then I just get it delivered at my house.”