A GROUP of artisans and crafts people have moved into an empty town centre shop as part of innovative plans to give it a new lease of life.

The Wallingford High Street store is being let as part of a plan to reduce the number of vacant units in the town centre and give new businesses the chance to drum up interest.

As part of plans to fill the town’s empty shops, town centre specialists Iain Nicholson and Neil Wild of Flashop UK Ltd have offered short leases of the shop for short periods for a weekly fee, which includes rent and bills.

Mayor of Wallingford councillor Lynda Atkins said: “It offers entrepreneurs a chance to get into practice and work out what they want.”

Madeleine Tanner has brought together a group of local artists and crafters to move in to the unit, which is next to The Gallery.

Ms Tanner runs Create-ability which offers creative craft workshops as well as selling hand-made craft products and materials.

Businesses that would like a space in the pop-up shop should e-mail Mr Nicholson at iain@prbi.co.uk or Mr Wild via neil@wild-property.co.uk