An exciting programme of new initiatives are being launched in Dorchester town centre as businesses pull together to make it a more friendly and inviting place.

Dorchester BID has a number of new ideas in the making for the town.

One scheme it has recently launched is the 'Tourist Information Points' (TIPs).

The idea is for businesses to be able to provide basic tourist information such as town maps and shoppers guides.

Businesses will have a TIP sign displayed in their window and is it hoped that this will encourage more people to visit their shops.

It also aims to give the Tourist Information Centre a boost as businesses have highlighted that not many people are aware of its new location in Dorchester Library.

Stores that have already signed up to the initiative include Posh Partridge, The Horse With The Red Umbrella, Shoetrees, The Keep Military Museum, County Butchers, Café Paninis, Concierge Brewery Square, Jordans Jewellers, The Post Office, Three Legged Llama, Westwood House Hotel and Box of Porcelain.

Project director of Dorchester BID, Phil Gordon said: "This is a good start I think but we welcome interest from other shops, cafés and businesses over town especially if they are near to car parks bus stops or the station, all entry points really.

"TIPs will offer a warm welcome to visitors to town providing basic tourist info such as town maps and shoppers guides, a postcard showing a map to the main TIC in the library."

Public access wifi is a project included in the BID’s five-year business plan and is something the organisation has been passionately working towards since being voted in in 2013.

Free wifi throughout the town centre will cost about £40,000 and is now expected to be installed before the end of the year.

Speaking at the latest BID levy meeting held last week Mr Gordon said: "We’ve been wanting to do this for a long time and we nearly succeeded in funding a few years ago but we weren’t quite quick enough and the government funding was given to other towns and we lost out.

"With verbal commitments from Dorset County Council and West Dorset District Council we were still short of funds to cover the town as we would have liked.

“At our last meeting I said that the town council were not fully supportive of this and were unsure of its benefits. But since then we have been to the town council and given them a proper demonstration.

"However, over the last week, the town council have agreed a contribution and are now 100 per cent behind it and Brewery Square have also come on board. This means that we should now be able to cover the town centre including Brewery Square and the Borough gardens which is simply great news."

Dorchester BID is also working with the town crier on a new 'town tour' app.