Local shoppers and independent businesses invited to buy and sell on Saturday in a Virtual Valentines Village

This online shopping opportunity is hosted by Independent Wirral, and the Village's digital doors open at 8pm.

It's an initiative which aims to encourage local shopping and spread some love to small businesses hit hard by the pandemic and its lockdowns.

And this is how it will work:

- Just before 8pm on Saturday, Independent Wirral will upload albums of all kinds of Valentines products to its Facebook page and Facebook event timeline

- Customers can comment on images of things they would like to purchase with the word 'SOLD'

- The albums will stay on Independent Wirral's social media channels over the weekend

- On Monday February the 1st, orders will be sent directly to the small businesses

- They will make contact directly with their customers, take payment and fulfill the orders

There is still time for local small businesses to offer their wares for sale, and this is what Independent Wirral needs from you if you would like to take part.

- Your business must be independent - not part of a larger organisation

- You need to furnish Independent Wirral with product images and the information needed to tempt people to buy

- All products must be Valentines related in some way - perhaps wrapped nicely, the style of print, comes with a love note?

- All products must include an offer for Shop Local Card holders

- You are also asked to help by sharing, commenting and spreading the word about the virtual event

- If you are an Independent Wirral partner you are allowed an unlimited number of product images; if not, you are able to upload one product image.

For more information, email [email protected]

You don't need to buy something that is specifically a Valentines gift. At a time when it is difficult to see people, this could be a way of celebrating love in general and supporting local retailers.