ALCESTER has become the smallest town in Warwickshire to have free Wi-Fi installed in the town centre.

Visitors, shoppers and businesses can now get online using the free connection, following its launch on Friday, May 19.

The new facility came just in time for the town’s spring food festival that saw thousands of people flock to the town centre last Saturday, May 20.

The project, which has been supported by Alcester Town Council, Alcester Chamber of Trade and Commerce, the Alcester Retail Partnership and has been funded by Warwickshire County Council, costing £10,000.

Chairman of Alcester Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Sarah Bassett, said: "Alcester may be a small historic market town but it is now firmly on the digital map.

"Many of our independent retailers, pubs and cafes have Google listings, websites and are active on social media.

"Both Alcester Town Council and Alcester Chamber are thrilled to have been given the opportunity to be part of this pioneering program. 

"In recent months, The Warwickshire Towns Network have prepared our town centre independent retailers for our digitally connected High Street via a comprehensive program of training in social media, marketing and collaborative working. 

"The support that has been provided has been incredible."

Rachel Baconnet, team leader for town centres and tourism at Warwickshire County Council, said: "We have been working hard to promote the installation of free public access Wi-Fi in a number of towns across the county and we are really pleased to see Alcester fly the digital flag for some of our smaller market towns.

"The way people shop, visit and socialise in town centres has changed dramatically over the past few years, with more and more people relying on smart phones for readily available information about shops, offers, events, places to eat and so on. 

"We wanted to support businesses in our town centres by helping to provide free Wi-Fi to attract people in to the town centres and help to keep them there longer."

Details of the town’s event calendar, tourism, hospitality and retail offerings are available to follow using @visitalcester on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.