With retail experts predicting that the Great British high street could soon become a thing of the past unless something is done to preserve it, the message from local business leaders is clear – “use us or lose us.”

As part of the campaign, we have launched the Buy Local loyalty card, which local shops and traders, like the one featured here, are signing up to in order to give you discounts until the end of the year, to encourage people to shop locally.

ONE local firm is helping to trim the cost of gardening for Grimsby Telegraph readers.

RBM Agricultural is offering 10 per cent off its entire range of lawnmowers as part of our Buy Local campaign.

As reported, the scheme was launched last summer to encourage shoppers to spend their money in local shops.

And so far, more than 4,000 readers and 50 businesses have signed up.

One of those companies is RBM Agricultural, which operates from five sites, including Brigg and Louth, the two depots where Grimsby Telegraph readers can use their loyalty cards.

While agricultural machinery remains a staple part of the business, RBM is increasingly involved in the gardening sector.

Since 1966, the firm has been an approved dealer for John Deere Ltd, the leading manufacturer of agricultural and garden equipment.

Steve Hill, stores manager at the Brigg depot, said: "We joined Buy Local when it was first launched.

"We originally did it for the toys at Christmas, and with lawnmowers being a more expensive item to buy we are hoping that this discount will entice some more people to come in."

Mr Hill said customers were already showing an interest in lawnmowers in the run-up to spring.

"It's starting now. People have been coming in to see if we've got deals on the mowers," he said.

"It's started a little bit earlier this year. I think it's because the grass hasn't stopped growing due to the milder winter we've had."

Mr Hill is fully behind the campaign to encourage shoppers to buy locally.

He said: "There is too much internet shopping and almost every day you hear about another high street store that has gone into liquidation.

"With a local retailer you get a personal service that you just don't get on the internet or with the big national chains.

"If anyone ever has a problem with a mower, we are just at the other end of the phone, and being a local company we can come straight away to sort it out."

Bob Tindall, parts manager at the Louth depot, said: "We sold mowers up to the end of November and we did very well with toy sales over Christmas.

"We've had some interest in mowers already this year, and we are expecting things to really pick up around the beginning of March."

RBM is open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, and on Saturdays from 8am to noon.

For more information, call the Brigg depot on 01652 650600, or the Louth depot on 01507 617588.