VOLUNTEERS have been getting stuck in sprucing up Colchester town centre as part of a new partnership initiative.

Colchester Council has launched a new series of hands-on volunteering days, called Resident Action Days, in a bid to improve the aesthetics and boost civic pride in the town.

The initiative is being led by the authority’s town centre manager Samantha Lancaster, who is working closely with councillor Martin Leatherdale, who is also manager of Lion Walk Shopping centre.

The first event saw volunteers come together from a number of organisations, including the council, Our Colchester BID, Colchester Civic Society and Essex Police’s Colchester Town Centre team.

Mr Leatherdale said: “It’s been fantastic to see the enthusiasm and passion from many great people and organisations within the town centre come together to collaborate together and deliver tangible improvements, essentially enhancing much needed civic pride in the town.

“There is seemingly a national trend in the decline of the High Street for many reasons, however, Colchester is in a unique and resilient position, with £18.2million investment from the Government in the town and existing projects coming to fruition, such as the £1million St Nicholas’s square project and Jumbo.”

To volunteer email Martin.Leatherdale@colchester.gov.uk.