THE first weekend of Maldon's Totally Local Fiver Fest has been hailed a great success as the High Street's independent traders recorded the best sales since lockdown.

Now the festival of £5 bargains at participating businesses in the town will continue through to Saturday, 24 October, on weekdays as well as at weekends.

Queues were formed outside shops and social distancing was fully observed.

One of the event's organisers, Allison Gray, who also owns Willow & Fox in Quest Place, said: "What a fantastic start to Fiver Fest.

"Some businesses have struggled to get back on their feet post lockdown and this event looks set to help bring back trade. Maldon High Street was buzzing at the weekend and the public really got behind the independents to show their support and spend a fiver, or more.

"My business, Willow & Fox, was busy all day, my colleague Deb was holding the fort and did a fantastic job serving customers. Social distancing was observed and people were happy to queue and wait.

"We would like to say thank you to the public and we have every faith that they will continue to support us. We have such a lovely town and many great independent businesses, some of which are only being discovered for the first time as people seek out the £5 deals. It's fantastic to feel an air of positivity following difficult times and we invite the public to visit again over the next two weeks. "

Paul Raymond, owner of Ansell & Sons Butchers, said: "We were delighted when Allison invited us to join in with Fiver Fest, it's such a good way of encouraging people to explore the amazing independent shops in the high street. We've already had lots of interest and seen some new faces!

And Carey Brown, of Buntings of Maldon, added: "Trade has been picking up and the last couple of Fridays and Saturdays have been good, but this Saturday was exceptional. We had a good number of new customers who were following the deal round town, several picked up other bits while they were in the shop and hopefully some of them will come back."

Maldon Nub News has listed all the deals for you, so take a look here:

Maldon's Fiver Fest Eat Out Offers

The Black Rabbit

Any hot drink and slice of cake £5

Serendipity Tearoom

Choose any cake plus any hot drink for £5

Maldon's Fiver Fest Shopping Offers

Willow & Fox:

Buy a £10 gift voucher for £5 (limited to two per customer)

TwoBecomeOne:

10 crystal stones for £5

Bluebell Maldon Ltd

Bath loofah & x2 soaps

Red ceramic heart trinket dish

The Card Company:

Any Cake plus tea/coffee

The Bra Consultancy:

Pretty Polly tights for £5

Missy Moo Ltd.:

Children's shoes £5

Crystal Shack:

4 incense sticks £5

Any item of jewellery cleaned for £5

Yours in Sport:

Snood x2 for £5 or Nike football socks (week 2)

Wenlock Furnishings:

Clockwork soldier paper puppet kits all £5

The Emporium:

Country Hunter pouches 6 x 150g £5 (week 1)

Sausage bites 300g £5 (week 2)

Mrs Salisbury's signature loose leaf tea and a branded stainless steel strainer. Usually £16.45

Ansell & Sons:

Sage & Onion stuffed large breast of lamb (week 2)

Spectrum Merchandising Ltd.:

Mug and sweets gift wrapped (week 2)

Best Wishes:

Canvas bags 2 for £5

The Cake Supply Company:

2 spooky adult books and 2 spooky kids books:

Pine – £5

Theodora Hendrix and the Monstrous League of Monsters – £5

LA Nails:

Sweet box £5 instead of £10

Reed Hair:

£5 offer Kerastase Fusio-Dose treats your hair and immediately transforms for lasting results. (Normally £12). Why not add a blowdry with this offer from £20?

A selection of Sothys makeup available – Sothys brand is considered to be the signature of excellence in professional skincare.

Upstairs, Downstairs:

Cambridge chocolate boxes, normally 8.99

Buntings Butchers:

Breakfast Deal – 1lb of Stuart's Traditional or Old English Sausages, 1lb Lean Back Suffolk Bacon and 6 Large Local Free Range Eggs

Offers in place when you visit.