COMMUNITY campaigners hope to make a New Forest town more 'zesty'.

Members of the Fordingbridge Events Group, established in January, will set up events during the summer and over the festive season.

The group’s chairman, Nicky Jenkins, said: “There are quite a lot of people who are passionate about Fordingbridge.

“There has been businesses and banks closing.

"I’m very keen, both as a resident and as someone who runs a business in the town, to put Fordingbridge back on the map.

“The idea behind the group is to put a new zest into the town.”

A website is currently being developed. Members of the committee hope the site, which will bring together voluntary organisations, churches and businesses, will become a resource for the community.

“We have got a great team of people already,” Nicky said.

“We don’t want Fordingbridge to just become a sleepy, quiet little place - it is a fantastic town.”

The group is still discussing the summer festival. The event, held in aid of charity, was previously run by the Rotary Club of Fordingbridge. However, after nine years it had to be abandoned.

“There’s an awful lot of passion and interest to not lose it [Fordingbridge Summer Festival]," said Nicky.

“We are looking to see if we can do something similar or whether to adapt it slightly. These discussions are all ongoing.”

For more information, or to join the group, email fordingbridgeevents@gmail.com