A new shopkeeper said she hoped other aspiring independent traders will take her lead after occupying a prominent retail premises in Diss.Ladies fashion and accessory store Cherry's Boutique opened in part of the former Footloose 'n' Funnybones children's clothes and shoe shop in St Nicholas Street at the weekend.

A new shopkeeper said she hoped other aspiring independent traders will take her lead after occupying a prominent retail premises in Diss.

Ladies fashion and accessory store Cherry's Boutique opened in part of the former Footloose 'n' Funnybones children's clothes and shoe shop in St Nicholas Street at the weekend.

And newcomer Sam Brinkman said she hoped to encourage other independent retailers to move to the Diss high street, which has suffered during the economic downturn.

The mother-of-two, who opened the shop on Saturday, added that she hoped her business could stimulate enterprise in the area, which has seen a number of closures.

The Footloose 'n' Funnybones shop closed nine months ago after blaming a reduction in footfall and fashion retailer Tigertail and Blue Moon clothing and craft shop also shut at the beginning of the year.

Mrs Brinkman said she hoped to encourage more shoppers to St Nicholas Street and its courtyard shopping areas after opening her boutique store.

The entrepreneur, who moved from Essex to Diss three years ago, will be assisted by her husband Danny, who is a retail manager for John Lewis.

Mrs Brinkman said: 'We were toying with the idea for a year and we thought it was now or never. Even though there is a bit of a downturn we decided to take that jump. I am quite into fashion and it was the most obvious choice. It is nice to do something I enjoy and work for myself.'

Mrs Brinkman added that there had been a positive response to the opening of a new independent shop in the area.

'There has been a really steady flow of people and people have said how nice it is to have a new clothes shop in town. I do not think there is anywhere in Diss that caters for the younger market. The support from local people has been fantastic.'

'It may encourage someone else to come up to this part of town. If people see new businesses are opening up, it may encourage others to give it a go. We have put a lot of hard earned money and time into this and I think it will be very successful,' she said.