A COMIC book store is holding a special day to celebrate independent businesses and raise money for charity.

Blast Music and Comics in Braintree has created an ‘Independence Day’ to celebrate small businesses, and raise money for charity through games, music and dress-up.

The day is part of the store’s re-opening day as they have not long moved premises to the 81 High Street address, which they say has been “a breath of fresh air”.

A spokesman for the store said: “We hope to celebrate Fountain End and Sandpit Lane who have some incredible small businesses.

“It is so important to recognise and celebrate small business in the town and we hope this raises that awareness of what is actually around.”

Blast Music and Comics have teamed up with fellow fountain-end businesses Baby Bakes and Shake Express to create a hamper which is being raffled off at £2 per ticket with all proceeds going straight to Autism Anglia.

The hamoer included a voucher from Baby Bakes and Shake Express alongside prizes from Blast Music and Comics.

The spokesman added: “Our event is aimed not only to help people see and celebrate the independent businesses around this end of Braintree but also to raise awareness for Autism Anglia, this is a charity close to many hearts locally but also to the cosplayers who are coming down on Saturday.”

On the day, on top of the charity raffle, there will be games, music, drinks and snacks from the stores.

There will also be cosplay characters coming down to walk the fountain end of the High Street, waiting for picture opportunities with the community.

The event itself is being planned to run on Saturday (March 19) between 10am and 4pm.