THIS week the Comet launches the most crucial campaign in our history. Our Live Local, Buy Local, Love Local campaign is for everyone and in the weeks ahead we will tell you both how you can get involved in your community and what the local community can

THIS week the Comet launches the most crucial campaign in our history.

Our Live Local, Buy Local, Love Local campaign is for everyone and in the weeks ahead we will tell you both how you can get involved in your community and what the local community can offer you.

This week we have launched our Buy Local campaign. You may already have seen our posters go up in a number of shops and premises throughout Comet country.

As part of our commitment we will run a free listing to promote these shops every week. Readers will also have an incentive to visit them as we will be running a number of offers which supporters will be e-mailed on a weekly basis - all you need to do to receive these offers is to pledge your support to our campaign by signing up at www.thecomet24.co.uk/buylocal

It is vital that we support those premises which provide the very heartbeat of community shopping areas and our town centres. We all notice the negative effect when shops become empty and together both traders and customers can help to breathe new life into this vital aspect of our life. If money generated locally stays in the area then the positive effects will be there for all to see.

In the coming weeks we will also be promoting our Live Local and Love Local campaigns. Live Local is aimed at making the most of all places which we can visit and all the clubs which we can support in our leisure time.

There may be numerous places to go if we head out of Comet country but a quick look at the area reveals a whole host of public spaces, tourist attractions and facilities where we can take the kids or simply go for some relaxing leisure time.

Our Love Local campaign will ask readers to actually take a long hard look at their community and see just how they can give something back. If we can find time for work, shopping and leisure, then everyone should have just an hour to spare each week to give their time to a worthy cause.

There are numerous charities and community groups in our area who provide a much needed service while there are a host of unsung heroes who raise money for these causes, volunteer to help groups or simply care for those who need support.

This activity is the very lifeblood of our community, it's what draws us all together and through any tough times helping others is something which we can and must do.

All the big organisations and key people have backed the Comet in this campaign and will be offering their support.

Stevenage Borough Council and North Herts District Council have joined Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses. All four town centre managers have given us the thumbs up as have bodies such as Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation. Our MPs Oliver Heald, Barbara Follett and Peter Lilley will also be throwing their weight behind the cause so now it's up to you, the public of Comet country to show that you are prepared to support our community. This is a time when more people than ever have sought help and everyone should be prepared to do what they can.