Urmston is a small town just outside Manchester, with a sprawling city centre that was almost wiped out by the grand ambitions of politicians. Why be satisfied with streets lined with shops, when you can build some big mall instead? Like so many of these projects it was finished by the time the recession arrived.

Urmston Bookshop is run by Frances and Peter Hopkins: “We’d like to think that opening an independent bookshop also showed that we believed in this town.” And other independent businesses seem to agree.

Flixton Road, where the bookshop is located, now boasts an utterly charming vintage shop, a specialist dancewear shop, a clothing boutique, a sweet shop, a tattoo parlour and “many other quaint, quirky or useful little businesses that keep Urmston interesting”, according to a website that promotes independent business in Urmston. That website also listed five reasons Why We Need Independent Bookhops (and why we should shop at independent bookshops at World Book Day, and I completely agree with all of them.

Their recommendation for me: Longbourn, since I was heading towards Bath and Jane Austen-territory.

Their promise: “If you come back, you’ll get a cake based in the jacket of your book.” How can anyone possibly resist?