Businessman has set up a website to champion local shops after his favourite one closed following the opening of a Tesco supermarket.

IT specialist David Croissant, from Brighton, was so incensed when a popular butcher's shop in south London was forced to close because of the impact of the new Tesco he decided to do something about it.

He has launched a website, www.theShoppersBible.com, which he calls "the last stand of the High Street".

He says it will give shopkeepers the tools to fight back. Owners of small shops and boutiques can list their details and services so customers can find alternatives to supermarkets.

Mr Croissant said research showed consumers wanted to support their community's shops but did not have the time to look for them.

He said: "People can quickly identify the details of the retailers they need and even interact with the shopkeepers using a forum designed to bring owners and customers together.

"It is a sad fact that no matter which town or city you visit in the UK you will see the same row of High Street shops with their massive marketing budgets that simply blast away the smaller independent stores.

Now is the time to use or lose our local shops."

Retail outlets of any kind can list on the site for a yearly fee of £9.99, although the first 999 to sign up will not be charged.