A farm shop owner was left completely "disheartened" after going a whole day without a single customer.

Amber Furnival, who owns Honeychild Manor Farm Dairy on Romney Marsh, says businesses like hers "simply won't survive" unless people start supporting the traders on their doorsteps.

She has now urged people to use independent firms more after experiencing a frustrating day without any visitors.

Mrs Furnival, 39 said: "It was quite disheartening. I think a lot of it has to do with the time of the year, the pressures felt in the UK from the war in Ukraine, Brexit and the cost of living, so quite understandably people are battening down the hatches

"While I appreciate that, as a shop keeper, we have put a lot of heart and soul into producing what we do and we are only a small business, we’re not like the supermarket, we need consistent footfall.

"We had a pretty good summer, but then the kids went back to school and it was mid-September that we saw a significant downturn.

"If people don't come and use these little shops with staff who are passionate about food and their customers, then we simply won't survive.

"That's farm shops, tearooms, everything on the Marsh and beyond.

"Everybody is in the same boat at the moment, we know it's not just us.

"Maybe our items are a little more expensive and luxurious, but my answer to that is 'if you can only afford to come to us once a week and buy one item for one special dinner, we would rather that than you not coming at all'."

The farm store opened in 2020, becoming the first fully automated shop on the Marsh.

It operates through a 20ft bank of lockers, each with perspex doors which open once customers have selected and paid for the products they want.

Mrs Furnival hopes people will find ways to support small businesses even through the cost-of-living crisis.

"Because we only stock British, it costs a little bit more," she said.

"But we should be supporting British farming at a time when British farming is facing its own crisis off the back of Brexit.

"We should look to buy locally as much as we can.

"Buying something produced in Britain tastes 100 times better than anything imported."

'Everybody is in the same boat at the moment, we know it's not just us...'

The message of buying locally is echoed by Produced in Kent, which recently joined the 'Don’t Lose It, Use It' campaign, supporting the sector through the winter.

Floortje Hoette, chief executive of local food and drink champions, said: “Spending your hard-earned money locally means that it stays local.

"It goes to local people and families, and in turn it filters through to other shops, restaurants, pubs and local tradespeople. It keeps our county strong and staying strong.

"Spending money with the big-chain retailers means that money leaves the county, never to return.

“With every pound you spend locally you help businesses who provide vital supplies and services to rural areas.

"It supports their incredible work looking after the land, keeping people in jobs, creating shorter supply chains and supporting the convenience of the local community, wherever they can.

"Without our help the local independent sector will not survive this downturn.

"This is all of our responsibility. If you just buy a handful of things each week it will make a huge difference.

"Without your help the local independent sector will disappear and leave us with bland, imported and mass-produced product."