On-going efforts to boost visitor and trader numbers in Ashford town centre has won approval from a government minister.

Jake Berry MP from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - who has a remit which includes local growth and high streets - was given a guided tour of the town centre and said other towns could learn from its approach to developing partnerships to boost all important footfall.

Given a 90-minute tour by council officials and Ashford MP Damian Green, he said: "It’s great to have seen a town centre that is thriving and is enjoying an increase in the number of people visiting.

“It is a tribute to Ashford Borough Council and the traders involved. I have met some fantastic and passionate champions for the town centre and it’s obvious to me that this success comes from a strong partnership approach.

“What is unusual about the Ashford approach is the absolute dedication to creating a partnership between the local council and new and existing traders to drive the town centre forward.

"They have found new and innovative ways of regenerating the town centre and I applaud this.”

The tour took in the Park Mall shopping centre – which the borough council bought in 2015 – the High Street and County Square shopping centre.

He also visited Elwick Place, a new 100,000 sq ft town centre cinema, hotel and restaurant complex due to open later this year.

Ashford MP Damian Green said: “Most town centres in the UK are struggling and asking for help but here in Ashford we recognised that the key to success is forging a powerful partnership between business, the local council and others.

“The town centre is being reinvigorated and more and more people are being attracted.”

Cllr Graham Galpin, Ashford Borough Council’s portfolio holder for the town centres and business, said: “We have gone from being a Portas Pilot town with much untapped promise to having a town centre with a quality and varied retail offer. People care passionately about their high street and the statistics show that they vote with their feet when the offer is right."