THE man in charge of revitalising Blackburn town centre has hailed the arrival of two new business-financed ambassadors helping retailers, shoppers and visitors.

Borough regeneration boss Phil Riley is delighted that the pair will add to security, information and promotion of the central area as new buildings rise around it.

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The ambassadors IMPRovement are employed by the Blackburn Business Improvement District which pays for improvements to the town centre from a small levy on shops and other businesses within it.

This week Tracey O’Keeffe and Ashley Richardson began daily patrols of the town centre to make it feel safer and more secure for visitors and staff working in the area.

Their duties include dealing with security issues, directing visitors to shops and landmarks, tackling low level anti-social behaviour including littering, vandalism and fly-tipping highlighted by the traders.

They are the first point of contact for traders to raise any concerns or ideas that they may have with local police, BID and Blackburn with Darwen council.

Wearing a royal blue uniform embroidered with the BID logo, the ambassadors will patrol the BID area from Sudell Cross to Townsmoor for an initial 12-month period.

Blackburn with Darwen borough executive member for regeneration Cllr Riley said: “ It will add to the feeling of welcome and security and provide valuable information to those who come to out central area. It is an example of businesses and people in Blackburn doing their best to promote their town.”

The team has been recruited by Castlegate Security in Lancaster where the Lancaster BID has a similar scheme.

It is hoped that they will help to enhance some of the BID’s key objectives which include creating a more attractive, safer, secure and welcoming town centre.

The ambassadors were among a number of initiatives planned in the BID’s annual report and plan.