The views of Dereham businesses are wanted as a newly-established group gets off the ground.

Dereham Business Forum is seeking the views of businesses based in the 01362 telephone code area.

The group, which is made up of small business owners, has developed a short online survey based on feedback from its current 98 members.

Results from the survey will be used to form an action plan for the forum.

There will also be a drop-in session for businesses to find out more about the Dereham Business Forum on May 15.

Interim chairman Roger Atterwill said 'The Dereham Business Forum is still in its infancy but so far we are very pleased with the level of interest we have already received from the local business community.

'It is very important that we obtain the views of as many people as possible and I would urge business owners to take a few minutes to complete our short survey.

'In addition to this we feel that it is also important to make ourselves available in person so that local business people can take a few minutes out of their busy day to come along and have an informal chat with us over a cup of coffee and to this end we very much look forward to meeting people at our first drop in session. Your views are very important to us.'

As previously reported, the business forum has been set up to promote the Dereham area, bring more people into the town and encourage traders to work together to boost the economy.

It comes at a time when a lot of shops have been closing and there is concern about out-of-town development.

The drop-in session will be held at the Dereham branch of Barclays Bank at Market Place next Friday between 9am and 5pm.

To take part in the survey, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6Z979M6

Anyone who would like to contact the Dereham Business Forum should email info@derehambusinessforum.org, join the Dereham Business Forum Facebook page or follow them on Twitter @derehambusiness.

Are you helping to promote Dereham? Email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk