WALLINGFORD has been given a £200,000 cash boost to overhaul its image for residents and tourists.

The money will be used to deck the town centre in banners and flags, provide free Internet wi-fi and improve information for visitors.

Wallingford Partnership Ltd, which brings together local businesses, the town council and voluntary groups, is being given £100,000 from the South East Regional Development Agency.

And that is being matched by South Oxfordshire District Council.

Town councillor Lynda Atkins, a director of the partnership, said: “This is a huge thing – a real chance for the town to make something of itself and, with the recession, the timing is brilliant.

“We want to say to people in the town they have got a great place here and don’t need to go anywhere else to have a good time.

“And we want to tell people from outside that they don’t need to go to Didcot, Oxford or Reading — come to Wallingford, it’s wonderful.”

Among the plans are:

Free wi-fi Internet throughout the town centre

Improving the town’s website to allow community groups to have their own pages promoting their activities. A roving webcam will stream images of life in the town around the world

New brackets to hold flags, banners and Christmas trees

New Christmas lights

A series of new town trails with leaflets and mp3 audio guides, starting with a history trail.

It has taken two years of work for the partnership to secure the funding.

Elaine Hornsby, who sits on the partnership, said: “There’s been this line about Wallingford being the best-kept secret — but we can’t survive as a secret any more.”