HEART of Worcestershire College students got in on the ground floor of a campaign aimed at wooing more businesses into Redditch.

The budding mechanics and sports students joined in focus groups run by Redditch Borough Council to give their views on the area.

The council - a part of North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration Partnership - plans to promote the borough through social media, photography and digital campaigns to build up pride in Redditch.

Students were asked what keeps them "inside" Redditch and what takes them "outside" the area.

Some of the students live outside Redditch - so they were asked to reveal what brought them "inside".

Their feedback will be used to develop the campaign - and a similar consultation will take place in two years' time to see if their perceptions have changed.

Students at the college, which is a partner on the council-led Redditch Economic Development Theme Group, have also been invited to take part in a photography competition, depicting the borough, with winning images to be used in the campaign.

The feedback will be used to develop the campaign and similar consultation will take place in two years’ time to see if perceptions have changed with students.

Redditch Borough Council leader Bill Hartnett said: “It was great to build on our links with the college and to harness the energetic feedback from its students. who provided mixed opinions on their views on Redditch as a place to live, study and socialise in.

"While the main thrust of the Promoting Redditch campaign is to attract businesses to the area, at the same time we want to continue to build pride across the borough.

"We look forward to working with the students, on this, going forward.”