Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

It is now part of the Town Team Programme.

Trowbridge has successfully applied for £10,000 as part of a national programme to boost town centres.

The town has become part of the Town Team Partner programme, which the Government launched to support those towns not successful in bids to be part of the Portas Pilot.

The town will receive £10,000 to help develop some of the ideas it outlined in its bid for the Portas Programme that would improve the town centre.

These ideas could include ways to promote and market the town centre, develop local markets, support pop-up shops, tackle the problem of empty shops and encouraging local retailers to work together.

As well as the funding, the programme also offers access to:

• Help to get started and become established in the town

• An advice line and a network of advisers managed by the Association of Town Centre Management

• Special national events to learn from other Town Teams, and secure support from industry experts and trade bodies

• An online 'Knowledge Bank' with expert advice and support

• Regular meetings with other Town Teams to share tips and ideas, and

• 'Crowdfunding' - a potential way to attract local investors and raise small amounts of finance to support their work.