SHOPPING guru Mary Portas is visiting Nelson for the first time today to see where her £100,000 has been spent.

The town was one of 12 in the UK to become a 'Portas Town', receiving funding and expertise to transform its high street.

Mary Portas, who found fame with her BBC show ‘Mary Queen of Shops’ was commissioned by Prime Minister David Cameron to find 12 Portas Pilots – which would receive the support of the government, Whitehall, and Mary herself, as well as a share of £1million.

Since receiving the funding council bosses have teamed up with Nelson and Colne College students to offer a new dimenson to the likes of Scotland Road, Manchester Road and Leeds Road.

An arts and vintage market was one of the centrepiece events last October and a flashmob descended on the Lancashire Day celebrations in November.

Further schemes like a student loyalty card and 20-foot high designs on the side of Pendle Rise shopping centre are also being trialled.