FIRMS and shops in a town centre have voted by four to one to continue paying a levy for promotional events and security measures.

Blackburn Business Improvement District (BID), which began in 2014, will now continue until 2023.

Of the 350 eligible businesses, 86 per cent voted in favour of its continuation.

Nicola Clayton, BID's chair, said: “We are thrilled businesses have given us this confidence vote. The BID has achieved so much in five years and it would be difficult to imagine the town without it and the investment it brings."