BOLTON town centre started its fightback against the Trafford Centre with the successful introduction of permanent Sunday trading in September.

Other measures planned in the new year include a scheme to encourage service excellence in local businesses and a customer loyalty initiative.

Town Centre manager Maria Appleton acknowledges the real threat to the local economy from the Trafford Centre and the effort needed for a successful defence campaign.

"Bolton will survive - there is no doubt about that," she says.

"But the businesses in Bolton will only survive if they realise the magnitude of the threat and respond."

She went on: "Every business needs to think about how it operates.

"If a new shop front is needed, now is the time to do it."

She said it was accepted that a lot of people would go to the new Centre to have a look.

But she thought many would then stay with Bolton - especially if the motorway system became overloaded.

"Let's just say that grid-lock will happen," she said.

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