Fife Council is once again proudly backing Scotland Loves Local Week - and Provost of Fife Jim Leishman has been flying the flag for local businesses.

As the nation prepares to cheer on Scotland at the World Cup, the football hero councillor is urging everyone to get behind their local enterprises, helping to build stronger communities.

He is showing his support for choosing local ahead of Scotland Loves Local Week, which starts on June 13th - just hours before Steve Clarke’s side kick-off their campaign against Haiti in Boston.

With national pride hitting a high, the team at Scotland Loves Local is urging people to celebrate local pride as well.

And that can start by supporting local businesses when shopping for the likes of World Cup parties, visiting local venues screening matches - and then sticking with the habit of choosing local year-round.

Mr Leishman is one of Scottish football’s most celebrated characters, the current chairman of Scottish Cup finalists Dunfermline Athletic and a vocal champion of local life in Fife.

He said: “In Fife, we’re proud of our communities and the people who keep them going day in, day out.

“Our local businesses are at the heart of that.

“With Scotland heading to the World Cup, there’s a real buzz about the place - and it’s the perfect time to get behind the shops, cafes and venues on our own doorstep.

“Local businesses give the place its life and character, and they need our backing.

“If we all make the effort to choose local, even in small ways, it helps our high streets and town centres thrive.”

Mr Leishman paid a visit to Abbot House in Dunfermline ahead of Scotland Loves Local Week, where they met with Operations Director for Abbot House Louise Hutchison.

Scotland Loves Local is the drive for people to build stronger, more sustainable futures for their community by supporting the businesses in their area, potentially injecting millions of pounds into regional economies.

The importance of that will be championed during Scotland Loves Local Week, the theme for which this year is ‘Flying The Flag for Local Businesses’.

Fife Council is among its supporters, with businesses and other organisations across the region also getting behind it.

Kimberley Guthrie is Chief Officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, the organisation which spearheads Scotland Loves Local.

She said: “It is easy to underestimate the impact of local people supporting local businesses, and local businesses supporting one another. Yet every one of us can play a remarkable role in driving community wealth and building stronger, more resilient communities simply by choosing to do so.”

Scotland Loves Local is supported by the Scottish Government. For more information about getting involved, go to www.lovelocal.scot.

Our photo above shows Jim alongside Louise at Abbot House in Dunfermline.