THE city's oldest independent store is to sponsor the Newport spinoff of a national event to promote independent traders in the city.

Wildings, which is the city's longest established independent trader, is to back the city's Independents Day events on July 4 and 5.

Organisers are calling for other traders to get involved.

Department store Wildings, which will have undergone a £140,000 refurbishment by the time of the event, will host a cookery demonstration on July 4 and will offer a limited number of bags of life in store.

The news was announced by The Newporters action group. Founder member and Rogerstone Labour councillor Chris Evans said: "It’s great to have the backing of a respected Indie trader like Wildings who are showing their confidence in our city centre with a huge investment in their store."

He urged traders to get involved and put on their own offers: "Events like this are about trying to empower traders, to take control themselves and to help create a entrepreneurial ‘can do’ environment in which our brilliant Newport Indie traders can thrive.

"I’d also like to challenge the great Newport public to back our indie traders, put July 4 and 5 in your diary and pledge to spend at least a tenner."

Traders can find out more by contacting thenewporters@gmail.com or by calling Jon Powell on 07825 655138.