Everyone is finding it tough at the moment and wants life to get back to normal.

We will be profiling local independent businesses regularly over the coming weeks in a feature called UP CLOSE IN MALDON DISTRICT to help showcase the area's diverse range of independent traders. By spending locally, you help support local jobs - and so build our communities back stronger.

Today we feature a new venture by two Maldon High Street shops – who are branching out with pop-up shops to offer something a little different at Maldon's Promenade Park this summer.

IT'S been a difficult time for the High Street during the pandemic – and now two of the town centre's businesses have decided to make the most of the open air by creating pop-up shops at Maldon's Promenade Park.

The opening day for the new venture will be this Saturday (17 July), when from 10am park visitors will be able to find the outlets for Maldon Books and eco-shop Silo close to the amphitheatre, by the lake at the Prom.

Maldon Books will be selling from a pretty shepherd's hut – called the Book Hut - while Silo customers will be able to purchase environmentally-friendly wares from a marquee, lent to the shop by Love Essex as an eco-friendly alternative to buying a new one.

Olivia Rosenthall, who has won national and local awards for the High Street bookshop she opened in December 2019, told Nub News: "When we had to close our doors once again in the third national lockdown, we were so unsure of how things would be for us and despite the support our customers gave us, like many new businesses on the High Street, we just didn't know what the future held for our little bookshop.

"We had so many ideas for Maldon Books, from author events to writing workshops to regular story time sessions. With our small premises, we weren't at all sure what might be possible for us after lockdown. So earlier this year we came up with the Book Hut.

"We will be there all summer long, right through to September, selling books for both adults and children, as well as a selection of reduced titles. The plan is to be open seven days a week."

"We're really looking forward to seeing everyone and I think the main thing is the excitement of being able to offer visitors to the Prom something a little bit different.

"As we've been setting up over the last couple of days, there's been a lot of interest and now we just can't wait to open."

Lucie Walker-Hutt, who moved Silo from Bright's Path to the High Street earlier this year, said: "We will bring a taste of the High Street shop to Promenade Park and provide an environmentally friendly shopping option by the water."

Silo will be selling local products, toys, picnic items, sunscreen, snack,s treats and much more.

And Maldon Books is celebrating opening day with local author Jake Tyler cutting the ribbon and signing copies of his fantastic book 'A Walk From the Wild Edge.'

Writer James Henry will also arrive at 2pm for another book signing, with both events free and no booking necessary. James, author of the Essex-based DI Nicholas Lowry series, will be signing copies of his latest novel, Whitethroat.

For more information and updates you can visit the Maldon Books Facebook page using the link here and the Silo Refillery Facebook page using the link here.

The Keep it Local campaign is being launched through Maldon District Council's Sense of Place initiative, with funding from the Magnox Decommissioning Fund.