The Gloucester Citizen has issued a rallying call to readers to support city centre shops this Christmas.

A front-page comment by editor Ian Mean, headlined ‘We’re backing Gloucester!’ asks readers to shop in the city’s stores to help convince “all the doubters and the bad news merchants” that Gloucester has a viable future as a shopping centre.

Ian said: “Gloucester’s Great for Christmas! This is the message which we want to shout from the city’s rooftops.”

In a four-page Christmas special the paper sets the festive scene telling readers that Christmas is coming early this year, with Santa making his first visit on November 9.

The pull-out also includes a countdown to Christmas and a first look at the special opening times planned for some of the city’s major stores, together with messages from local MPs and store managers telling readers why Gloucester is the place to shop.

Ian said: “We understand that millions of pounds of investment is on the verge of being made in our city centre, but the final decisions on the vital investment are still hanging in the balance.

“And without a doubt, a vote of confidence in Gloucester’s shopping this Christmas will go a great deal of the way to convince the money men that we deserve bigger and betting shopping facilities.

“And of course, that their investment is a safe bet.”

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