A surge of new students at Bedford College, The Bedford Sixth Form and the University of Bedfordshire on Polhill Avenue, means a boost in business for the town centre.

The Love Bedford Bluecaps have been out and about at Freshers Fairs to welcome the new customers to town and introduce them to local businesses.

First up is the Student Shopping Lock-In at the Harpur Centre on Thursday October 22nd from 6.30 – 8.39 pm when there will be special offers galore to encourage those aged 16+ to tune in to town centre outlets.

Other information shared with students, some of who are new to Bedford or the town, were maps and information about the leading  lovebedford.co.uk website.

Christina Rowe, Director of BedfordBID (Business Improvement District) which promotes the town on behalf of levy-paying businesses said: “These 1,000s of students are boom for our town centre. They pour into the town at lunchtimes and after classes and the older ones from the university come back in the evening to visit pubs and clubs.

“They are our shoppers of today and tomorrow so we want to teach them to Love Bedford.”