A new action group has been launched in Weymouth in a bid to make the town ‘feel more loved’.

And there’s a launch event tomorrow to get people involved.

Started by a group of residents and the town centre manager, WeyPROGRESS was started for people who “want to make a difference and think they can help.”

The aim is to bring interested people together to do “simple, but great things around the town.”

Founding member Nigel Shearing said: “There’s loads going on and everyone really wants to make a difference, across all sectors. But the town still feels unloved. It’s dragging people down. We want to help change that by creating a really positive group that does things, with others, for ourselves.”

The group formed when new town centre manager Ed Warr, tasked with supporting the Weymouth regeneration plan, joined forces with business development officer, Isabel Howell and retired fire officer Mr Shearing.

Mr Shearing said Ms Howell wanted to do simple things for immediate impact and positive effect while he wanted to build a better sense of community with stronger engagement.

He said: “Ed saw the links, pulled us together, and here we are.

“Everywhere I go I speak with people that really care, who are passionate about this town and want it to be so much more. I really want to help us achieve this by being a catalyst to join things up so we can make a real difference, together.”

WeyPROGRESS means:

* P - help build PRIDE in our town

* R - help RESTORE the soul of Weymouth

* O - work with OTHERS to get stuff done

* G - help GENERATE ‘can-do’ attitudes

* R - help REJUVENATE our town centre

* E - seek EMPOWERMENT to do things for ourselves

* S - SUPPORT each other to build a sense of community

* S - STRENGTHEN our resolve to make a real difference

Mr Shearing said: “The name captures the essence of what we’re about. We really want to join people up and get stuff done and we want to have some fun in the process.”

The group is working closely with Nick Thornley, the council’s head of economy, leisure and tourism.

“We have their full support and we are all now working together to make things happen,” Mr Shearing said.

The group has more than 450 members joining the Facebook group.