They want people to shop local and support independent businesses which are suffering because of the bad weather, a poor Easter, increased parking charges and the credit crunch.

Natalie Cockerill, who owns the Cheeky Monkey shoe shop in Manor Street, said: "We are struggling like hell and I have put an awful lot of money into the business to keep it going.

"People should support the shops in the town and think twice about going to Hull and York if they can get what they want in Bridlington.

"If people don't support the local shops they won't be here next year.

"People are always saying they want a Next but Next won't come if other shops are not successful. We are not failing because of a lack of effort, we are failing because of a lack of support."

Mrs Cockerill said as well as people travelling out of town, parking was also a factor, along with the bad weather and the fact Easter was early this year.

Sarah Stephenson, who works at Kaleidoscope in Chapel Street, said: "Owners are doing everything they can to keep their businesses going.

"I've noticed people having sales which they shouldn't be doing yet but people are desperate. Everyone has bills to pay and the situation is rubbish.

"What can you do short of grabbing people and bringing them into the shop?

"People don't associate Bridlington with anything good and they go out of town but when shops go out of business they are the first to complain."

She said people now have a throwaway culture and would rather buy five T-shirts from Primark than a more expensive one which would last longer.

Miss Stephenson said: "Buying clothing is now classed as a luxury and not a necessity. My heart goes out to retailers and I don't know what anyone can do."

She said more independent traders were selling online to attract customers.

Miss Stephenson has even set up a group on the social network website Facebook called Protect Bridlington Independent Retailers to encourage the town's businesses to fight together.

Another Manor Street trader, Dave Sims, who recently moved his shop Flickers from Promenade, said: "You can tell the credit crunch is starting to have an effect.

"A lot of regular customers are caravanners and we have noticed fewer seem to be coming in and, when they do, they are spending less.

"I know there are other factors like parking charges and the price of petrol to get here but there are definitely fewer people in the town than this time last year."

Neil Watson, chairman of Bridlington Chamber of Trade, said: "If people want to have local businesses in five or 10 years time when the town has been redeveloped they need to make sure they support local businesses now.

"The best way for businesses to have an influence in the town is to get involved with the regeneration or the Chamber of Trade, which is there to represent the views of businesses."