The team behind the Ashby Gift Card has unveiled the Win Your Dream Christmas competition - alongside an encouragement to support local this Christmas.

Ashby's gift card was introduced by the town's BID in August last year, as a means to encourage local shopping.

Over 50 businesses are part of the Ashby Gift Card including restaurants, cafes and pubs like Zamani's, White Hart and The Olive Branch.

Shops that accept the Ashby Gift Card include Grace & Co Jewellers, The Style Hive and Indulgent Chocolates.

Lisa Roulston from Ashby BID said: "As the countdown to Christmas commences, the Win Your Dream Christmas competition is a fantastic opportunity for Ashby residents to win a £1,000 Ashby Gift Card to spend on all of their favourite things this Christmas.

"The competition is also a timely reminder of the importance of supporting local.

"Choosing the Ashby Gift Card makes supporting our businesses in Ashby really easy."

Colin Munro is the Managing Director of Miconex, which provides the technology for the Ashby Gift Card, and said: "We encourage everyone in Ashby to enter the Win Your Dream Christmas competition.

"With a £1,000 Ashby Gift Card they could treat friends and family to festive gifts, fill the cupboards with tasty treats for Christmas or even indulge in some pre-Christmas pampering.

"The cost of living still a concern for many; the competition is a chance for people to have a worry-free dream Christmas."

The Win Your Dream Christmas competition is open now and closes on December 8.

Enter the competition for free HERE.

In Ashby Gift Card research, 98 per cent of people say they are keen to support local businesses this Christmas with 87 per cent saying they support local businesses to help keep them open.

And 89 per cent plan to buy at least one gift card this Christmas.

Research also showed our favourite things about Christmas with 40 per cent of people saying they most enjoy the festive atmosphere.

For 33 per cent, it is the festive activities and events that make their Christmas.

Fifteen per cent of people said their favourite thing is the presents, and for 12 per cent, it is the Christmas food and drink.

But there is also worry about how to pay for Christmas too, with 72 per cent of people saying the cost of living crisis is a concern for them.