Basildon has appointed its first ever town centre manager to lead the town into the next millennium.

After a two-year hunt, Kerry Davison was chosen by town centre bosses.

She today said she was "flattered and excited" by the historic appointment.

Her brief will be to bring more shoppers and retailers into Basildon by promoting the town centre as a bustling regional attraction.

As former fund-raising public relations manager for St Luke's Hospice, Kerry has already done her bit to put Basildon on the map.

She was responsible for the New Holland marathon on September 5, which brought hundreds of runners to the town.

Now Kerry, 41, will be turning her attention to bringing more shoppers into Basildon.

She said: "In the first instance we need to bring people back to Basildon.

"Basildon still has an image at the moment - that of Eastenders brought up in a new town. But this new town has a lot more to offer and has all the ingredients of a successful shopping centre.

"Retailers and the council have tried to promote an image without a controlling point of communication while trying to do their other jobs.

"We've got a lot to offer in this town and I've been brought in to co-ordinate that promotion."

Fighting for Basildon - new town centre manager Kerry Davison

Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

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