LISKEARD is celebrating after being chosen as one of the first 12 Portas Pilots in the country. Almost 400 towns nationwide had applied.

The bid, put together by the Town Team, was the only successful one in Cornwall, beating St Austell, Helston, Hayle, Camelford and Penzance.

Becoming a Portas town means Liskeard will receive £100,000 from a £1.2m pot to help kickstart the revitalisation of the town centre.

Added to this will be advice and help from various agencies and from Mary Portas herself, the retail guru who was appointed by the Government to study the state of the country's high streets.

Sally Hawken, chairperson of the town team, which was formed from the town forum with the backing of the town council, said everyone was euphoric with the bid's success.

She said: 'Portas have highlighted our ideas for a town website, evening market and a vibrant arts scene. It is all looking pretty good.'

In a letter to the town team, Mary Portas, and minister Grant Shapps, said: 'Your town of Liskeard has shown the leadership, energy, enthusiasm and vision to make a real difference to your local high street and make it the hub of your community.

'We expect that you will take your role as a pilot seriously and deliver fresh, vibrant and exciting ideas.

'Please use your money wisely, but even more importantly, harness the momentum you have already created in your town to go on and do great things.'

MP Sheryll Murray has expressed her delight at Liskeard's success.

'I am absolutely thrilled that one of the Portas Pilots is to be in my constituency,' said the Conservative MP.

Cornwall councillor Jan Powell, mayor Tony Powell, town forum chairman Mike Gregory, traders association chairman Ian Stevenson and chamber of commerce chairman Rik Jones have all welcomed the funding.