SOLUTIONS to revive Colchester's town centre will be presented at a two-day exhibition and conference next month.

Town centre professionals from across the UK were tasked with demonstrating how achievements in their own towns and cities could support Colchester's future development.

The challenges addressed issues like rebranding a historic town, boosting footfall and improving town centre travel links.

After a successful pitch by Karen Taylor, founder of Colchester Soup, the annual Revive & Thrive Solutions Conference will be held here between September 29 and 30.

Revive & Thrive is an organisation which creates opportunities for towns, cities and high streets by uniting them with professionals who can provide the tools to survive.

The finalists of the Challenge for Places competition will present their ideas to an audience at the Mercury Theatre, to secure more than £71,000 worth of prizes to support their chosen place.

Ms Taylor had approached Revive & Thrive at the start of the year.

She said: "They thought they were dealing with one nutty person, but said if I could get statements of support, they’d consider my proposal.

"I forwarded 13 different statements before they offered to visit Colchester and I arranged for a series of people to take them on a tour.

"Five weeks later they confirmed the event."

Colchester Council and the Town Team partnered with Ms Taylor, and the event is being sponsored by Blachere Illumination, PFM Footfall Intelligence and the Mosaic Partnership.

Besides talks and workshops, several walking tours will take place including Sir Bob Russell's heritage walk and one with playwright Dorian Kelly.

A Colchester Council spokesperson said: "The conference will address a range of issues facing town centres nationally, including, but not exclusively, ways to boost tourism.

"At least 150 delegates are due to attend the event, which will also include a 15-stand exhibition."

Councillor Tim Young (Lab), deputy leader of the council, said he is delighted by the news.

He added: "I'm equally pleased the borough is to play host to another national event this autumn, when a conference for museum professionals is held at Colchester Castle.

“It shows our efforts to develop Colchester as a destination for business tourism, through the development of new hotels, is already paying dividends.

"We hope the delegates will return for long weekends helping to make the borough a short-break destination, in addition to its existing popularity for day-tripping.”

For tickets, click here.