United Kingdom -W I (Womens Institute) Get behind local farmers and local produce.

They are an army of women in Leicestershire who are happy to be mobilised to support good causes.

So who better to get to back our Support Your County campaign than the Women’s Institute?

The WI is a force to be reckoned with up and down the country – with its members taking on the causes of ending violence against women, reducing food waste and tackling climate change.

Now the organisation’s members across Leicestershire have pledged to take part in Independents’ Day, this Saturday, and join hundreds of other shoppers from across the county by buying local.

The idea is that the day, which is part of the Support Your County campaign, will give the local economy a boost during the recession and help save jobs.

This army of women in Leicestershire has now been mobilised to support their local farm shops, markets, butchers, grocers and other independent businesses.

Jane Harris, a former county chairman, said: "We have a very strong interest in buying British food from local food producers and reducing food miles. It is important for us to buy local.

"We are trying to encourage our members to support farmers’ markets and local shops – and this campaign ties in with that."

The WI has about 150 groups within the county, and about 4,500 members in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Among the women vowing to buy local are the members of Earl Shilton afternoon WI.

They all appreciate the importance of the independent shops in the village – and are all fans of Redshaw Greengrocers, in The Hollow.

Barbara Bowley, 67, lives on a farm so knows the value of supporting local producers and stores.

"I like to shop local and always have done," she said. "We have a cattle farm and used to have a milk round, but just could not compete with the supermarkets. Our meat goes to the local butcher in the village, Bevins.

"You have to shop locally to keep shops going. With the Earl Shilton bypass opening soon, I think a lot of the shops will suffer. There just will not be that passing trade. So we have to back them."

Fellow member Denise Branson, 76, has lived in the village for 53 years.

Although she admits she often does her weekly shopping at Morrisons, she said she will be going to Redshaw greengrocers on Saturday. She already visits it to buy fruit, vegetables and fresh eggs.

Ruth Jackson, 76, who moved to Earl Shilton 51 years ago, said: "I go to the greengrocers for fruit and vegetables because I know I need to support local shops. When I moved here there used to be lots of shops like that, selling food, fish, clothes, furniture and a garage. Now there are not so many."