COUNCIL employees could be given discounts in shops in a bid to boost the local economy.

Town Hall chiefs are in talks with businesses to try to encourage them to sign up to the scheme and offer reductions to the authority's 10,000-strong workforce.

It is hoped that the initiative will led to a significant increase in trade, not only in the town centre, but across the borough.

Bosses from Town Centre Management and the town's MP Paul Rowen are backing the drive, which was announced following the launch of the Observer's 'Shop Local' campaign.

With a third of shops standing empty, our newspaper is urging people to support their local traders and help rejuvenate the ailing shopping district.

Councillor Greg Couzens, who owns a town centre salon, said: "We realise it's important that we work together with local businesses to find ways to support the local economy. The idea of this scheme is to encourage the thousands of people we employ to spend their money in our town centres and not elsewhere. We've already seen what a great success the free after three parking scheme has been, with local shops reporting a three per cent increase in footfall and hopefully discounts for workers will have the same effect."

Mr Rowen threw his weight behind the Observer's campaign, adding: "The employee discount idea will not only benefit local shops but also council employees. It is vital for the success of the local economy to keep as much money in our town as possible rather than spending it elsewhere. The more shops that sign up the more successful we will be."