30 March 2012 Last updated at 08:43 ET

Middlesbrough town centre gets £100,000 shop boost

A Teesside council has received £100,000 government funding to spend on breathing life back into its town.

Middlesbrough Council has been awarded the money to encourage more retail businesses to set up in the town centre and attract shoppers.

Traders will also be asked to vote on whether they want to set up a Business Improvement District (Bid).

If given the go ahead, traders will pay a levy which is re-invested back into the town.

Councillor Charlie Rooney, from Middlesbrough Council, said the £100,000 award showed the government had confidence in the town.

He said: "We are waiting further details on exactly how we can spend the money, but we are fortunate in Middlesbrough to have businesses and people with the ideas, passion and energy to make the town centre an even better destination for shoppers."