The message by the Bedford Business Improvement District (BID) to promote the town centre has gone live across Bedfordshire  - and Milton Keynes.

Posters and giant banners with balloon-filled messages can now be seen in key locations – as well on the buses.

“We want people to show us how much they Love Bedford this summer by visiting us for days out, shopping and lunches or evening entertainment,” said BedfordBID Director Christina Rowe,

“Only BedfordBID is promoting our town on this scale and our balloon visual will be seen in publications, on posters and much more throughout the season.”

BedfordBID represents 575 levy paying businesses in the town centre who all pay a levy into a central pot which is administered by a board of volunteer business people. The brand Love Bedford can be seen across all mediums especially www.lovebedford.co.uk which is the most popular “what’s on” site for the town.

In addition to marketing, BedfordBID administers the Love Bedford Vouchers scheme which has put £700,000 back into local tills, it runs the Retail Radiolink scheme which is critical in crime prevention, and employs the Bluecap town centre guides.

Photo shows Christina and at one of two new banners which went up on Tuesday May 6th in time for the world cycle Women’s Race which was due in town on Thursday May 8th.

“As TV was coming to town we wanted to be sure that our town looked good,” said Christina.

*The balloon theme is continued with banners demonstrating the BID support for the famous Bedford regatta on Saturday May 10th.