This week’s Loughton business shoutout goes to the independents along the High Road and around the station who keep the town feeling friendly, local and properly Essex. If you’ve not popped into your nearest café, salon, deli or bookshop lately, try swapping one big-shop errand for a local one and tell them Discover Essex sent you. Which Loughton business do you always recommend to friends, and what’s the one thing they do better than anywhere else?

Shout out to the little greengrocers by Rayleigh High Street (near the entrance up to Rayleigh Mount) — their fruit’s been spot on lately and the prices feel fair compared with the supermarket. Also had a cracking coffee from the café tucked just off Websters Way after a wander round King George V playing fields. Any other Rayleigh independents you’d recommend, especially for a decent haircut that doesn’t cost the earth?

Quick shoutout to the little greengrocers on the High Street near The Chequers – their strawberries and salad bits have been miles better than the supermarket lately. I usually pop in after a loop round Lake Meadows Park and they always have something decent in season. Any other good independent spots in Billericay you’d recommend for proper bread or coffee?