Work is taking place to make sure Ormskirk looks even more welcoming during the glorious summer of fun.

The Ormskirk Town Centre Management group has been working to help improve the town centre's appearance as it aims to deliver actions within the Ormskirk town centre strategy. This will complement the work which has already been done to improve of Moor Street.

Bunting to decorate the streets has already been put up, and work has started to remove graffiti from public areas and re-paint and varnish benches and other street furniture. A town centre community clean-up and maintenance work on some paving areas are also being planned. Owners of buildings are to be encouraged to spruce up their properties to help improve the appearance of the town centre.

Councillor Ian Moran, Leader of West Lancashire Borough Council and portfolio holder for Transformation and Economic Regeneration, said: "We really want the town to look as good as it possibly can as there are some really exciting events planned. These include the first Gingerbread Festival in Ormskirk on Saturday 30 July and the Ormskirk MotorFest on Sunday 28 August.

"Improving the appearance of the town centre will show visitors what a great place Ormskirk is and encourage people to keep coming back, which will help boost the local economy."

The Town Centre Management Group can now judge the success of events and promotional campaigns with a new system installed to monitor footfall in the town centre. This will also identify when visitor numbers are at their highest and lowest and help the group in its work to support local businesses.

A further boost has come with the opening of the new jewellery boutique Biagio in what was formerly Johnsons the Cleaners on the corner of Burscough Street. Other shops to open recently include Hello Baby on Burscough Street, Dolly Couture on Church Walks and The Serious Barbering Co on Burscough Street. This has helped reduce the number of empty units in the town centre to just 11 out of 324, a vacancy rate of just 3.4%, one of the lowest in the country.

David Wilkinson, Town Centre Management Group member and General Manager of Marks and Spencer, Ormskirk, said: "All of the initiatives above reflect the ongoing commitment of the Council and the Town Centre Management Group to help make Ormskirk an even better place to visit. The exciting thing is that there is so much more opportunity to develop the town centre even further, so watch this space."

More information on events in Ormskirk can be found at www.westlancs.gov.uk/events.

John Lloyd and David Wilkinson, who are both from organisations who are members of the Ormskirk Town Centre Management Group, lend a helping hand with the improvements to the town centre.