A new promotional campaign to help boost visitor numbers in Melbourne has been launched.

At the heart of the 'Discover Melbourne' campaign South Derbyshire District Council has collaborated with local blogger Molly Scott, and individual Melbourne-based businesses, to produce a video that brings alive the visitor attractions in the town - a seven mile drive from Ashby.

Bordering the National Forest, the council says Melbourne has superb restaurants, pubs and cafés together with shopping opportunities including galleries, antique shops, specialist clothes stores, gift shops and local produce.

The town proudly boasts more than 50 shops and eateries.

Melbourne Hall Gardens. Photo: Visit South Derbyshire

The Georgian town is also packed full of history and heritage. This includes Melbourne Hall and Gardens with its Royal connections and the adjacent parish church of St. Michael with St. Mary - one of the finest Norman parish churches in Britain, believed to have been built in circa 1125-35.

Alongside the promotional video to tempt new and returning visitors to discover or re-discover Melbourne, a downloadable map has been created, handily listing all the things people can do on a day or night out in Melbourne.

You can view the video above and on the Visit South Derbyshire site HERE website and download the Melbourne town guide HERE.

Melbourne town centre

Cllr Kevin Richards, Leader of South Derbyshire District Council said: "Many of our town centres and small independent businesses struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic and we are keen to look at all avenues and initiatives to showcase some of the wonderful towns, villages and tourist attractions we are lucky to have on our doorstep in South Derbyshire.

"The town of Melbourne is certainly right up there as a valuable asset for our District, and by working with the local business community to put together this campaign we hope to entice new visitors from nearby areas and further afield to discover what a truly wonderful place Melbourne is to visit."

Businesses in the town are invited to use a hashtag to join in with the promotion: #DiscoverMelbourneUK

The 'Discover Melbourne' promotional campaign, video and guide are part of the Council's commitment to supporting local businesses, many of which will have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The campaign has received funding from the Reopening High Streets Safely/Welcome Back Fund, supported by the European Regional Development Fund and HM Government.

The video was created by Bretby-based MIH Solutions, a strategic communications and PR agency, which was appointed by the Council to provide marketing support in promoting the District's town centres.