Businesses in Cavan have come up with a novel idea for increasing trade - they've organised a massive week-long sale to take over the town.

Over 60 retailers from Cavan Town and the retail parks will partake in the Blue and White Cavan Sale Week, starting this Friday (October 5).

The monster sale will run for slightly more than a week - it finishes on Saturday, October 13, and will see retailers pulling together to attract bargain-hunters to the town.

Jim Burke, president of Cavan Chamber of Commerce, says that "it is all about showing that Cavan is here and open for business".

The run-up to the mega-sale will see radio, newspaper ad campaigns, bunting and signage on all roads into the county town show off what customers can expect.

"Traders in the town and the retail parks have all pulled together and paid into a small pot out of which we can run and promote the sale.

"Things are very, very tough out there and pulling together will be vital for the town in that if you shop local jobs will stay local.

"We're all about showing people that you can get as good, if not better, offers from a local business than from the multinationals and you can get to know the people you are dealing with a lot more in that more owners and managers would be on the shop floors these days.

"The whole thing will be presented by the Cavan Retailers in association with the Chamber.

"In pulling together the Cavan Town centre will be essentially managed like a big shopping centre and shopowners are willing to work hard on deals to attract customers back to shopping local while building up a relationship and trust with them," he said.