REPRESENTATIVES of a leading property company were given the red carpet treatment in Bolton today.

The visit by the party from Land Securities Properties Ltd was the latest in a series aimed at meeting the challenge of the huge Trafford Shopping Centre taking shape at Dumplington, just off the M63.

Land Securities act as landlords for various properties on Newport Street and own significant property interests throughout the UK.

Senior managers were invited to meet business and civic leaders in Bolton Town Hall as part of a drive to attract fresh investment to Bolton town centre.

Their visit included a reception in the Mayor's Parlour by the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Eric Johnson, and a presentation outlining Bolton's vision to be the "Best in the North-West".

This was due to be followed by lunch and a guided tour of the town.

The first of the visits, which are organised by the Bolton Strategic Partnership, took place in January and involved representatives from Hermes Property Asset Management Ltd, landlords of Crompton Place Shopping Centre.

Richard Lynch, Bolton's Marketing Partnership Co-ordinator, said: "These visits form an important part of the Bolton - Altogether Better promotion campaign, which aims to promote a positive image of Bolton as a place in which to invest by organisations and individuals."

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