Pub vending machine

A pub in Staffordshire has installed a vending machine selling staples like bread, milk, eggs, bacon and butter. The Raddle Inn in at Hollington installed the machine outside the pub after failing to get planning permission to have a local shop at the site.

Zoo connection

Torquay bakery and coffee shop Dot’s Pantry has boosted trade by agreeing to sell tickets for the town’s ’coastal zoo’ Living Coasts. "We will have someone in a Living Coasts uniform helping out and talking to people. In these difficult times, businesses have to pull together," said John Doherty at Dot’s Pantry.

’Local’ cheesecakes

Aunt Bessie’s has launched a range of frozen cheesecakes in vanilla, chocolate and blueberry flavours made with locally sourced Yorkshire cheese.

Riot victim helpline

A free legal advice helpline has been launched by the Law Society to offer support to victims of the recent riots. Working in collaboration with its partner charity LawWorks and many individual law firms, it offers help to small independent shopkeepers in particular, whose livelihoods have been threatened. Call 020 7092 3949 or email riothelp@lawworks.org.uk, or for more information visit www.lawworks.org.uk/riothelp.

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