PAY-as-you-leave car parking, the complete pedestrianisation of South Street and greater promotion of Dorchester are among wishes for the future development of the town.

Businesses in the town have been voting on how they would like to see the town developed all summer as part of the attempt to turn Dorchester town centre into a Business Improvement District - BID.

Now BID backers say there are just a few days left for firms to have their say before the top 10 list of possible projects is announced.

BID project manager Phil Gordon said: "We are now nearing the end of the period when voting can affect the proposal to be put to ballot next February.

"Even at this late stage we would like businesses to vote for their favoured projects and if they haven't already registered to do so. We want businesses to get involved and have their say on how the town is shaped in the future."

Projects currently in the top 10 include the pedestrianisation of South Street, more creative lighting including Christmas lights, and the introduction of a land train.

Potential projects not in the top 10 include more CCTV, a free shuttle bus to Poundbury, a shoppers' crèche and extra park and ride buses.

And one of the proposals to make Dorchester a plastic bag-free town has already come to fruition with the introduction of two reusable cotton bags that are for sale across the town including at the Tourist Information Centre.

Further details on the BID - a precisely defined geographical area within which businesses have voted to invest collectively in improvements and the proposed projects - are available from the website: www. dorchesterdorset.co.uk