SHOP 'til you drop in Blackpool this summer as permanent late night Thursday shopping is in the bag from April 4.

Virtually all the major town centre stores have agreed to participate in the Blackpool Town Centre Forum initiative, alongside a growing number of other town centre businesses.

Blackpool Borough Council has also added its support with free car parking for the next year in West Street, Hounds Hill and Talbot Road car parks from 5.30pm to midnight on the Thursday evenings. While Blackpool Transport Services will be introducing bus and tram concessions.

Blackpool town centre manager Nigel Hanson said: "I am tremendously excited by this initiative and the enthusiastic support it has been receiving from all quarters.

"A lot of hard work has already gone into developing this project. We want to give residents of Blackpool and the Fylde Coast the most attractive offer possible and encourage increased customer loyalty to Blackpool, to the advantage of the town and Fylde Coast as a whole."

Hounds Hill shopping centre manager and chairman of the Forum's retail working group, John Holt, added: "It is a unique opportunity for Blackpool to regain customers and I very much hope that all the business community will be keen to be involved."

Funding for a major marketing and promotional campaign has been approved by Blackpool Challenge Partnership.