BUSINESS and civic leaders in Oswestry have welcomed extra funding from Shropshire Council to help cope with the Covid-19 fallout.

Leaders at Shirehall announced last week that the council will be splitting £137,000 across the county's market towns, including Oswestry, through the Marches LEP’s Marches Investment Fund to help fund projects that can attract visitors.

Adele Nightingale, wo manages the Oswestry Business Improvement District (BID) says the money will add to the good work already carried out so far as Oswestry looks to get back on its feet.

"We look forward to working with Oswestry Town Council to use this funding to encourage visitors to our lovely town and increase footfall to support all our businesses that have worked so hard," she said.

"Any additional funding we receive is always a bonus, especially now when we need to do all we can to help our town.

"There has already been a lot of work go on behind the scenes with Oswestry Town Council, Oswestry Borderland Tourism and of course the BID. We all speak regularly and are always looking at ways to improve our visitor economy.

"However, this is not just about attracting visitors back to town this is also about ensuring that local residents and those from the surrounding villages want to come to Oswestry, that they feel safe and welcome.

Oswestry town mayor, Councillor Duncan Kerr, believes the funding announcement is an unexpected bonus for the town, and hopes they can spend it in a way to boost people in the area.

He added: “This is further good news for Oswestry and we will be working with the BID to develop small projects that attract visitors and drive footfall and confidence.”

Meanwhile, BID has released its latest social media campaign to show how businesses are adapting to the relevant social distancing guidelines required to reopen.

In a stylish video posted on Facebook, businesses taking part are cleaning, labelling social distancing and putting out a warm welcome to returning customers.

Head to www.facebook.com/OswestryBID/videos/312034873171423/ to see the full video.