BURNLEY town centre will put itself in the shop window before a gathering of 100 key retailers and property agents this week.

The Town Centre Management Initiative will be exhibiting at a national property seminar in Manchester Town Hall on Thursday where keynote speaker will be Sally Keeble, Parliamentary under Secretary of State for housing, planning and regeneration.

The event organised by the Association of Town Centre Management in the North West will highlight the benefits of choosing town centres as a retail and leisure location as opposed to retail parks and out of town shopping centres.

Burnley town centre manager Lisa Durkin said: "It is a great opportunity for us to talk directly to key property agents and decision makers about investment opportunities in Burnley town centre as part of our on-going inward investment campaign.

"A similar event two years ago put us directly in touch with the agents for TK Maxx who were successfully attracted to Burnley as a result."

TK Maxx recently opened a store in part of the former Sainsbury's supermarket premises in Church Street.

Lisa said: "We are hoping to make some more contacts to bring further investment and quality retailers to Burnley town centre."

Sally Keeble will be outlining the government's support for regeneration works carried out in towns like Burnley and the need for retail and leisure operators to support and invest in town centres to ensure their viability.

Other speakers will include Steve Dennis of Luminar Leisure and and retail director for Adams Childrenswear Stuart Dickinson.