A LEAFLET urging people to ‘shop local’ by a man campaigning to become Pendle MP was printed in Surrey.

Now Andrew Stephenson, the Conservative’s parliamentary candidate, has been criticised for not using a Pendle firm himself.

Mr Stephenson had made the shop ping appeal via his Pendle Matters newsletter.

In it he said: “Despite many shops closing down in recent years, there are still many fantastic local independent retailers, offering great goods and services.

“From Barrowford to Barnoldswick there are still a great variety of small shops in Pendle and if we don’t use them we will lose them.”

But Eileen Ansar, who runs Slick in Manchester Road, Nelson, and is a Labour borough councillor, has criticised the fliers.

She said: “If he is so supportive of local traders then why is this leaflet being printed in Guildford?

“There are plenty of good print shops in Pendle and Burnley he could have used rather than going to Surrey to have the work done.

"When I saw these leaflets I couldn’t believe it as a local shopkeeper myself.”

Mr Stephenson said he had used four local printers on different projects this year alone.

He said: “With regards to our ‘Pendle Matters’ newspaper, we have on several occasions looked for a printer to print this locally.

“So far we have been unable to find a printer in Burnley or Pendle who can come even close to what we are currently being charged.

“Of course we would welcome any local printer to get in touch to provide a quote for us.

“I think it’s a fair point to make and I am pleased that my campaign has prompted people to think about where they do get their shopping from, whether it be presents for Christmas, food for their families or even marketing material.”