HATFIELD has won the bid to become a Mary Portas Pilot town – scooping a �100,000 prize to improve the town centre.

It has just been announced that Hatfield was among 15 winners in the second round of bidding for the �1.5m Government-funded scheme devised by the Mary Queen of Shops star.

It means that Hatfield will now receive �100,000 to put towards re-invigorating the town centre.

At the same time, it will receive expert Government advice on how to grow business in the area, and free support from high street giant Boots.

Mary Portas’ own team of advisors will also be on hand to help out, while members of Hatfield’s dedicated Town Team will be invited to meet fellow Portas Pilot winners to share ideas.

And a further �108,000 has already been pledged in match funding from councils, businesses and organisations around the town.

In a statement released just after midnight this morning (Wednesday) the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) revealed the 15 new Pilots who will join the 12 other towns that won the first bid in May.

Of Hatfield, the DCLG said: “The only New Town to be selected as a Portas Pilot, Hatfield will focus on making their high street a ‘community hub’ rather than purely for retail, by investing in a portable undercover staging area and events space in the town centre to host community events and activities.

“In addition, the Town Team plan to provide opportunities for start-up businesses and entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas at pop-up stalls during market days and at community events.”

We’ll have more reaction to Hatfield’s Portas Pilot victory online at www.whtimes24.co.uk later today.