Local businesses are clubbing together to support one another and spread some festive cheer this Christmas with a free virtual prize giveaway.

True Hair and Beauty Salon in Gravesend High Street has teamed up with other traders in the town to encourage more people to shop locally.

The pandemic has wreaked havoc on the finances of many businesses this year as lockdown restrictions heap on additional pressures and running costs.

This weekend True Hair, run by husband and wife team Phil and Jane Hales and their daughter Jade, was forced to celebrate the 19th birthday of the business behind closed doors.

But the team is delighted to report it will reopen when the national lockdown ends tomorrow.

And so in a bid to drum up support in the run up to Christmas, they contacted a range of independent and family-run businesses in Gravesend to invite them to take part in a virtual advent calendar.

They were delighted when 16 gifts were offered to be put behind the door of their virtual giveaway.

"It's brilliant so many people have contributed prizes," says salon owner Phil Hales.

"I think it shows real community in the business place and has made a lovely connection between us all."

The businesses signed up include:

• Revitalize Clinic
• Vegan Antics
• Mug and Meeple
• Marie's Tea Room
• For Girlys Gravesend
• Saucy Dough
• Bustles & Breeches
• Pad Thai Live
• The Three Daws pub
• Vitamin Shop Gravesend
• Ms Earlyns
• Artistic Florist
• The Pantry Kent
• Virdee Stores
• Julius Caesar Restaurant

The advent calendar giveaway is running on True's instagram page @truehairbeauty and each day a new door will open to reveal a prize to be won.

The competition will run up until December 24 and is free to enter.

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend