SHOPPING hubs in Gwent are bustling with activity this weekend as the country marks High Street Week.

Today [Saturday], Blaenavon is hosting a fun-packed fair with rides, cookery demonstrations and live music.

The autumn fair will feature a food and craft market with special offers and discounts.

Meanwhile, the revamped Pontypool Indoor Market is hosting a craft fair, which is expected to become a regular event.

Over in Caerphilly, the council launched new pocket sized town centre guides which have proved popular with tourists from Uruguay, Canada and Australia visiting the country for the Rugby World Cup.

All these initiatives are being marked as part of Support Your High Street, a Wales-wide campaign aimed at encouraging communities to support their local high streets and rediscover the benefits of shopping locally.

Last Saturday, Newport joined high street festivities with a successful Try a Trader event attended by thousands of people.

One of the organisers was Jon Powell, who runs mThe Newsagent at Newport Indoor Market.

Mr Powell is backing High Street Week at a time when work is continuing on the multi-million pound shopping centre near the market, Friars Walk, which is set to open at the end of this year.

Mr Powell, 36, said: “I think it’s important for the local economy.

“If we support big shops, the money is going to shareholders and that could be all over the world.

“I’m one of the people who spends most of my money in the market. It all gets the local economy going.

“We do compete against the big companies. It’s a challenge but we just have to show how we can provide a more personal service.

“We can also compete on prices because our overheads are not so great.

“Try a Trader started three years ago. It’s got bigger and bigger with each event.

“It’s starting to catch people’s imagination.”

Pontypool trader Gaynor James is looking forward to the craft fair at the venue which underwent a £2.3m revamp.

Since the refurbishment, traders have increased from 20 to 32 and the number of jobs almost doubled to 57, Torfaen council leader Bob Wellington said this week.

Mrs James runs a baby clothes shop at the market, called Individuality.

Mrs James, 59, said: “A lot of people think they’re getting a good deal in the supermarket but they’re not.

“In the market, it’s all fresh – it’s a personalised service.

“As far as I am concerned, if you want to buy different you have to come to my store. You won’t buy it in the supermarket.

“My clothes are handmade products that you can’t buy anywhere.

“What’s made me survive is stay away from the products they sell in the supermarket. That’s why my shop is called Individuality.”

Blaenau Gwent council also promoted High Street Week, as several businesses in the borough were nominated for High Street Hero awards run to mark the initiative.

One Gwent winner this week was Artie Craftie, a crafts shop in Blaenavon which helped to save a local post office from closure.

Nick and Wendy Horler at Artie Craftie took up the mantle after the postmaster at the old branch in Prince Street, Chris Rowles, stepped down earlier this year.

The craft shop is celebrating this week after being crowned the top community service provider on Wales’ high streets.

Over in Caerphilly, Cllr Ken James, the Cabinet member for regeneration, is also endorsing festivities on the high street.

He said: “Our choose the high street campaign is all about encouraging residents and visitors to Caerphilly county borough to make a conscious choice to support local retailers and celebrate the diversity and unique offering on our county borough’s high streets.”

The Welsh Government said that its Support Your High Street campaign celebrated the valuable contribution high streets made to the Welsh economy and the vital role they play in community life.

The Government said High Street Week was building on last year’s achievements with more colourful events and activities, as well as its new High Street Heroes Awards.

A spokesman stressed that the Welsh Government continued to work with local authorities and other public, private and professional organisations and businesses to sustain and develop high streets.

Rogerstone Cllr Chris Evans is one of the founding members of Newport Rises, a group of Newportonians wishing to see the city rise to its full potential.

The Labour councillor helped to organise the Try a Trader event in the city last week.

Cllr Evans praised the Government for backing businesses on the high street.

He cited the independent Tiny Rebel brewery set to open a new bar at Newport Market next month thereby creating around 20 jobs as a success story.

Cllr Evans also warned the benefits of the multi-million pound Friars Walk shopping centre must be felt throughout the city centre.

He said: “We have been promoting shop local coming up to four years.

“It’s great people and particularly Governments are beginning to realise the value small independent businesses make to our economy.

“I genuinely believe independent businesses are going to be the foundation of our economy. W have to do all we can to support them.

“This is not about people blowing their own trumpet.

“There is a really strong economic argument to back independent traders.

“We have to be really careful we have a tipping effect with Friars Walk.

“And it's not just about shops, it’s small businesses as well.

“It’s happening in America. Small, independent businesses are going to be the lifeblood of the economy. They provide skilled jobs.

“Tiny Rebel is a couple of guys who got the idea of making their own brewery.

“On Monday the First Minister visited them and they've had tea with David Cameron.”