A raft of initiatives to help Rutland businesses are planned by Oakham Town Council, including free stalls at the first of the town's summer band concerts.

The help follows councillors receiving and discussing feedback from its business liaison group at the Annual General Meeting of the town council on Wednesday.

The group plans to further reach out to local businesses and is looking for opportunities to ask Oakham businesses what it can do to help them.

In a town council press release, the council asks: "What specifically does your

business need to help you after a difficult trading year and what support could be required moving forward?"

The business liaison group would like to facilitate an event to be held centrally in Oakham where businesses can meet and discuss support that is needed and support we can help with.

The statement continued: "We are not able to distribute grants bit we are able to signpost towards other options that are available.

"We are also keen to get people together to create a network of all Oakham businesses who are all open to supporting each other."

The statement also asks: "Would you like to get involved in this event? Do you have ideas for how the event should look? Would you like the opportunity to meet other business owners? We want to hear your views and opinions and specifically want to know how you would like this event to look."

As part of its desire to support local businesses, Oakham Town Council is offering stalls free of charge to any business who would like to promote themselves/sell heir products at the first Summer Band Concert at Cutts Close Park on June 27.

There is limited space so please businesses are asked to contact the town council as soon as possible for a stall.

It can be contacted through its Facebook page, email [email protected] or [email protected] or

call 01572 733627.

A council spokesperson added: "Oakham Town Council is committed to supporting the community in any way that we can.

"If you have any ideas of ways that we can help please contact the office by emailing [email protected] or phoning 01572 723627."