PERSONAL welcomes are to be given to coach parties when they disembark in Ringwood as traders try to boost flagging fortunes.

Hot on the heels of the Ringwood Loyalty Discount Scheme, which offers reductions to people carrying a voucher clipped from the Daily Echo, comes the town’s Loyalty Coach Party Scheme.

Originator Jim Stride said the idea was to get coaches to return to Ringwood for comfort stops and shopping visits and get tills ringing merrily.

So far four people have volunteered to be a “greeter and meeter” and others are expected to join the ranks soon, said Mr Stride.

Margaret Groves is one of them. She said: “We just point them in the right direction so they can be independent and do as they wish.”

Along with the warm welcome will be a leaflet detailing special offers for coach parties, including lunches at Plummers Bistro and Seven Fish Bar, wine tastings at New Forest Wines, biltong sampling at Down South, a free postcard at Naughty Corner and other offers at Arcade Flowers, Flames and Mimi’s Nail Spa.

Visitors will also get a map to ensure an easy return to the pick-up point and a town guide pointing out historic landmarks such as Monmouth House where the Duke of Monmouth was held captive after his abortive rebellion of 1685, and the Meeting House, built in 1727.

Mrs Groves said: “It’s to promote Ringwood to a wider range of visitors and tell them what a wonderful place it is. Everyone will be welcome and we will have information for them when they arrive on the coach.

“It’s a wonderful initiative.”

Town mayor Cllr Brian Terry agreed that it was indeed a wonderful scheme.

“There can’t be enough of them these days. It needs traders, the council, banks, landlords, to all come together to bring us through these hard times,” he said.