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Market Harborough is a market town in south Leicestershire. In recent years there have been many new houses built on the outskirts and the town has grown considerably.

Because more people are living in the town, big chains like Cafe Nero, Jaeger and Zizzi have been attracted to trade there.

But do the benefits of chains like these outweigh the drawbacks for the small, independent shops, who are suffering due to the increase in competition?

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Leicester's Eleanor Garnier spoke to Jim Gilbert, an independent shop owner in Market Harborough, and Julie Mayer spoke to Sharon Shannon, the President of the Chamber of Trade for the town...

The benefits of chain stores

Several big chain stores have begun trading in Market Harborough in recent years, and that attracts visitors to the town, which brings in money.

Harborough residents may also be persuaded to shop in the town now Marks and Spencer's food, Cafe Nero coffee and Viyella clothing is available, whereas they may previously have travelled to nearby bigger towns or cities like Leicester or Northampton.

Chainstores also provide jobs for young people, especially the big supermarkets like Sainsburys, Aldi, Lidl and Tesco.

The drawbacks for small, independent shops

However, some Harborough residents are concerned about the impact the big chains will have on the High Street.

Sharon Shannon is the President of the Chamber of Trade for the town and she says that she hopes Harborough residents will help the independent shops to survive:

"At the end of the day it's the power of the pound, it's where people spend their money that that business thrives.

"The people of Market Harborough are very discerning, they're not silly, they do know what's going on and they're actually very very committed to keeping the town that they love the way that it is.

"I do hope that they will use their buying power to remain loyal to the small independents because it is a case of use them or lose them."