AFTER a large amount of shops owners were devastated to see there businesses affected by Storm Claudia, The Monmouth community have shown their kindness by shopping locally this Christmas.

The Monmouthshire Beacon spoke to several people on Monnow Street to see how they are going to be showing their support.

One Monmouth resident said, “I am going to be supporting lots of stores that are open, yesterday I went into Creates and it was absolutely amazing. I will keep coming into town and buying whatever I need for the shops that are open until the ones that are not open, open.”

The community of Monmouth, have helped each other through this devastating time, helping shops which are open and ones which are temporarily closed.

“Be kind to the community and support the local businesses, I’ve just done some Christmas shopping. I will go to Cotton Angel as soon as it is opens, I love the charity shops and I have just been into Thorntons, said another Monmouth resident.

Now the buildup for Christmas is starting to begin, residents said they are going to try and do most of their shopping locally to support businesses who are in need of the extra community support at this time.

“We come to Monmouth every week to do our shopping and we plan to keep coming and supporting Monmouth as a whole, said another spokesperson.

One spokesperson said, “I think everyone should try to shop locally as much as possible, especially with the small independent shops.”

For some locals, they are going to spend more time in the town, visiting shops they might not have been to before.

“We are doing everything we can to support local businesses, shopping locally as much as possible and spending as much time as we can in Monmouth.

“As it’s Christmas perhaps it’s expanding our horizons of what to get people for Christmas, so it’s something that’s local, said another resident.

“I am going to do all my Christmas shopping locally, as much as I possibly can and support all of the local shops when I can, said another spokesperson.

This unfortunate time, left Monmouth town feeling heavy, alive with effort but weighed down by the aftermath of the storm and its carried a heartbreaking burden but residents have put on strong faces, pushing through this difficult time. At a time where community spirit is needed, Monmouth has undoubtably shown this.