Tomorrow sees the launch of a new initiative aimed at getting people to stay in Norwich city centre later on Thursday evenings.

Norwich has lots to offer in the early evening including cafes, bars, restaurants, shopping, theatres, cinemas, pubs, gigs, and galleries. And to complement the above the Norwich Business Improvement District (BID) is launching a series of early evening events, to run from 5pm to 9pm.

Running until Thursday, September 26, Norwich will see 12 Thursday evenings with entertainers rotating around Timberhill, Gentleman's Walk and St George's Street. Tomorrow evening's event will see five world class Covent Garden street performers in the city centre, including Rob Roy Collins, one of the UK's top escape artists, Mr Spin, juggler and unicyclist, Pete Dobbing, a knife juggler and comedian, Robot Rock, a 7ft interactive robot and Giant Ladybirds, a walkabout double act.

The entertainers will be encouraging shoppers to move about the city and discover the various activities and events taking place.

Stefan Gurney, (pictured), executive director of the Norwich BID, said: 'It's about bringing something different to the city. We want people to use the city in the early evening, especially the leisure offer, including bars, restaurants, cafes and cinemas. And to support this, we are livening up the streets by putting some entertainers on. It's about drawing people into the city centre, but also, hopefully, getting office workers to stay later after work, and for others to maybe stumble across the events.'

Other events to delight city centre visitors and users will include those of a carnival, musical and interactive participatory nature. The Norwich BID, which was established last November, is raising £3m over five years through an annual 1pc levy on the rateable value of businesses over £15,000 within the BID area.