DON'T panic!That is the message from shopkeepers in Woodbridge who are urging shoppers to ''keep calm'' and carry on as normal during the recession.

DON'T panic!

That is the message from shopkeepers in Woodbridge who are urging shoppers to ''keep calm'' and carry on as normal during the recession.

The initiative has been led by Barrett's furniture shop where the owner, Raymond Morley, admitted he was fed-up with negative publicity flooding through the country.

Mr Morley is asking the public to keep positive and confident, and he said: ''I got the idea from a friend of mine. “There were posters during the war asking people to stay calm and try and be normal, and I think we need something like that.

''We have had a lot of people smiling at the poster and coming in to see us.

''They think it is a great idea and I want to fight back against all the doom and gloom. Mr Morley is delighted that other shops want to display the posters and he was praised for his campaign by Marion Wells, the town centre coordinator.

Dr Wells said: ''This is a brilliant idea. We want people to keep smiling in Woodbridge where we have such a wonderful group of shopkeepers and offer a personal service.''