The rigours of Christmas shopping can cause even the most dedicated of shoppers to flag.

It is just as well that our market towns host a variety of friendly and welcoming cafes, restaurants, and eating places to refuel after a long day of browsing the shelves, queuing at the tills, and abusing the credit card.

South Norfolk is bursting with unique establishments that will perk you up with fresh teas, coffees and lunches whilst making the most of our Shop Local for Christmas campaign.

A number of cafes, restaurants, and delicatessens have already signed up to the scheme, which will dish out a Shop Local sticker when you spend �10 or more at participating businesses. Collect 10 stickers on your passport and you could win �1,000.

One of the first cafes in Diss to join the Shop Local campaign was Mere Moments, in Mere Street, which has been run by Helen Naulls and Sharon Loome for the last two years.

The cafe owners, who serve up a range of cakes, soups and paninis, will be getting involved in this year's Christmas lights switch-on event on Thursday November 25 by opening until 8pm and hosting a Santa's Grotto, which will raise funds for the illuminations.

A new Italian-themed eating establishment in Attleborough, Steffijon Gelateria, has also signed up to Shop Local. The business, which opened in Queen's Square 12 weeks ago, does not just serve ice cream, but also a range of soups, paninis, calzone, and fine coffees.

Established cafe, the Fairland Diner, in Fairland Street, Wymondham, which has been operating in the town for 50 years, is the place to refuel on a full English breakfast during a Christmas shop. Alternatively, the Mad Hatters Tea Shop at the rear of Diva in Fairland Street offers a quintessential vintage English afternoon tea.

And if you are looking for somewhere arty to eat, Gurney's Bistro on the ground floor of Harleston Gallery, in Old Market Place, is the place to get a nice meal and browse the works of local artists.