Ashby de la Zouch has retained its Purple Flag accreditation - a recognition of the town's commitment to creating a dynamic, secure, and vibrant evening and night-time economy.

Purple Flag – similar to the Blue Flag for beaches – aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 5pm to 5am.

This prestigious award has highlighted Ashby's blend of entertainment, dining, and culture, while ensuring the safety and well-being of residents and visitors in the evening and night time economy.

Key successes in Ashby's submission included the enthusiasm of the working group about their town, the dedication and experience of the Street Pastors, and the establishment and involvement of the BID in Purple Flag.

Town Centre Manager, Stuart Benson, said: "It's clear to see that the town has a bright future and new businesses are willing to invest in Ashby.

Ashby was highlighted at last year's awards ceremony. Photo: Supplied

"In recent months the town has welcomed Centivo Lounge, Hispania and Lil Bo's Deli, adding to the range of offerings available.

"There are plenty of reasons to visit Ashby during the night time economy and there's a vast array of activities which caters for a varied audience.

"From fine dining to takeaways, comedy, film nights, live music, events, sports, arts and culture, Ashby has something to offer for all tastes."

The awards night will be taking place on Thursday, March 21, in Nottingham and more events to celebrate the achievement in the town are being organised in the coming months.

In addition to Ashby, nine areas received a Full Renewal accreditation, and 13 areas were awarded an Interim Renewal accreditation.

Ashby's Town Centre Manager Stuart Benson collects last year's award

There are 100 Purple Flag destinations across the UK, Ireland, Sweden, New Zealand and Australia.

This includes world renowned tourist destinations to small market towns.

Purple Flag says it has represented the gold standard of the management of evening and night time economies for nearly 15 years.