Almost a third of a £425,000 cash pot set aside by Shropshire Council to breathe new life into county market towns is to be spent in Market Drayton, it has been revealed.

About £135,000 will be spent on improving buildings in the town and supporting existing businesses, as well as trying to attract firms into the town centre to fill an increasing number of empty shops.

The cash has come from the authority’s Market Towns Revitalisation Programme.

The initiative will be led by town councillors, supported by the MTRP and Black Country Skills Retail.

Councillor Roger Hughes, a Shropshire councillor for Market Drayton West and project leader, said: “This project is aimed at helping to revitalise those empty business properties and bring them back into use.

“The recent negative press concerning the decline of Market Drayton High Street and the number of vacant premises in the town needs to be addressed.

“It is very gratifying that having worked hard with the council’s business support officer Peter Wilson and funding advisor Fiona Fortune over the past 12 months we are now able to proceed.

The scheme also has the backing of north Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, who said: “I am a strong supporter of encouraging economic activity in our market towns and I am delighted that Shropshire Council has granted this £135,000 towards regenerating the centre of Market Drayton.”

One of the businesses to benefit from the initiative is Tiny Tots Baby Boutique and Accessories in Frogmore Road, run by 18-year-old Shannon Boronski.

She said: “Shropshire Council came to me about business support, including how to do my financial results, stock levels and the shop layout.

“I thought I knew exactly what I was doing, but the council gave me a mentor who showed me the best way to make my shop look professional.

“I couldn’t have done it without him and the business support scheme has been a huge part of my success so far.”