A four-day Italian market with up to 60 stalls will be held in Dover this summer.

It’s one of the latest plans by the Dover Town Team which was formed last year to boost business and tourism in the town.

At its first annual meeting on Monday, chairman John Angell said he thought the team’s achievements, in so short a time, had been “quite outstanding”.

The team was formed to bid for money under the Mary Portas scheme. But two bids were unsuccessful so the team decided to go it alone and work to improve the town. It received £10,000 from the government as a “consolation” prize, and so far only £1,000 of that has been spent.

The group has attracted £12,585 in income during the year and has spent £7,687.

The hoardings in Bench Street and Townwall Street have been repaired and are being repainted by students from K College as part of their course.

The team has also arranged for the front of empty shops in the town to be cleaned.

Young entrepreneurs who have applied to take part in the Town Team’s Make It Happen initiative were due to meet with team representatives yesterday (Wednesday) and they will then take part in an eight-week programme.

The two winning people will receive £2,000 each to help get their businesses off the ground.

Full story in today's Dover Mercury.