More than two dozen Plymouth city buses will be carrying adverts extolling the virtues of shopping in the Queen of the English Riviera.

The campaign is the brainchild of members of Torquay Town Centre BID and has been timed to coincide with a series of roadworks threatening jams getting into the city centre.

Ian Broadfoot, Torquay town centre manager, explained: "We are doing the bus adverts in Plymouth as we want

Shop owners and traders in the seaside town attended the launch of the Paignton Business Improvement District meeting with many agreeing something needs to be done or the town will continue losing out to its neighbours.

About 35 traders attended the BID event at the Palace Theatre on 2nd August.

They

Torbay Town Centres Company and Paignton Business Partnership will be presenting a production about the potential for a new scheme to put Paignton town centre back on its feet.

The Paignton Business Improvement District (BID) is billed as the chance to restore the town as a vibrant and viable shopping centre for both residents and visitors.

Lucy Ball, Torbay Town Centres Company chief

Mr Gibson, who was born, brought up in and had worked in Swansea, had previously run the London Inn for the company,

The news came as Torbay Town Centres chief executive Lucy Ball spoke to the Chamber of Trade about the Torquay Business Improvement District (BID) scheme. She revealed that she was "shocked" when she first arrived in the Bay at the number of traders who did not even put a tree in their window during the festive season. Now the BID will be sinking money

With properties changing hands, landlords are asking for lower rents, which is making the town centre more attractive, said Stephen Lofthouse, director of commercial estate agents Bettesworths.

One of the properties sold by Bettesworths is the former Bitz unit in Union Street.This is expected to be split into two units and the new owners, who are local investors, are seeking

• Area 1: Steve Goss elected with 13 out of 34 votes
• Area 2: Simon Murray elected with 23 out of 33 votes
• Area 3: Robert Gibson elected with 18 out of 25 votes
• Area 4: Ian Lane elected with 5 out of 9 votes
• Area 5: John Steed elected with 27 out of 53 votes
• Area 6:

Ian Broadfoot, 43, has been appointed as the resort's new town centre manager following the setting up of Torquay's new Business Improvement District.

It is the first time in 10 years that the town has had someone whose sole job it is to improve the performance and attractiveness of its centre and harbour area.

Lucy Ball will continue as chief executive

At a time when, regardless of the outcome of the general election this week, councils and other public sector agencies are likely to see their budgets slashed, the BID for Torquay is going to be so crucial to really make some of those improvements to the town in spite of the very tight financial situation.

The BID will not build new roads or buildings

In partnership with Taste of the West and Creative Torbay, the Torquay BID attracted more than 30 stalls selling local produce and locally made products in the shopping centre.

The Caterfood cookery theatre hosted by Richard Hunt, of the Grand Hotel, provided entertainment throughout the festival with cook-offs, demonstrations and cookery challenges.

The