Businesses in market towns across Waveney have joined together to try to improve retail performance in the area.

A research study has been commissioned to establish what is seen as important by businesses and customers in Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth and Lowestoft.

The aim is that the findings can by used by the Waveney Business Forum to ensure a bright future for the towns.

Christine Pinsent, of the Forum committee and Beccles Business Association, said that the towns were hoping to act together as a stronger force, rather than individually.

'Each town has an opportunity to take part in this as we're holding a consultation with everybody on the issues to see what can be done to make them more attractive,' she said.

The Forum, which includes businesses associations across Waveney, has been looking to improve the area and this study partly stemmed from the national Mary Portas Pilot scheme.

Paul Moss, principal service manager for economic regeneration at Waveney Disctrict Council and Forum committee member, said: 'One of the main issues was how we could support the market towns and try to help the decline in the high street.'

He said the study was to understand what businesses and customers felt about the towns and help the towns learn from each other.

'We hope to put all the things together to come up with a programme of activities that Waveney Business Forum can start to role out in support of our market towns,' he said.

Initial meetings have already taken place in Bungay and Halesworth with businesses, and the next is to be held in Beccles. There will also be one in Lowestoft, before customers are surveyed.

Members of the Beccles Business Association and other businesses in the town are invited to the Beccles meeting at the Bear and Bells, in Old Market, on Tuesday from 7pm.

richard.wood@archant.co.uk