Anyone who visits Liskeard after an absence of two or three years will be amazed by the transformation of the town.

Gone is the traffic strewn untidy Parade which perhaps made people drive through without a thought of stopping.

In its place is the smart new regenerated town centre. Bright with flowers and an entirely new look, it's wide open space invites a second glance as well as giving those who live in the town a pleasant place o stop, shop and chat.

Along with the regeneration scheme has come a new heart to the town.

New shops are opening up and everyone has gained a new pride in their town.

This is in no small measure due to the resurgence of the Chamber of Commerce, with its members determined to put Liskeard back on the map in its rightful place.

Members from businesses all over Liskeard have joined in the fight to keep the town centre alive - and are determined to block any more out of town shopping centres. They want Liskeard to continue to be a busy market town offering a diversity of shops to the population.

But shops can't succeed without customers and one of the main aims of the Chamber of Commerce, and the other local bodies, is to encourage more support for local shops.

The town already has just about everything anyone would ever need for a family's weekly shop, plus all the other additional businesses which makes it easy to buy everything from a washing machine to a fashion outfit.

Liskeard has good sized car parks within easy walking distance of the centre of the town, although some members of the Chamber would like to see more free parking offers to attract more customers.

Unlike many other towns Liskeard remains a market town with a weekly cattle market and plans on the horizon for a possible farmer's market.

And there are plenty of places to eat and drink in the town centre.

Or to sit on one of the new benches and enjoy the spring sunshine