A move to create a Business Improvement District for Penzance has been formally approved following a ballot on Thursday.

A total of 224 businesses took part in the ballot, just 56% of the 402 businesses eligible to vote. Of those voters, 172 were in favour, representing an 77 per cent majority by number and 71 per cent by rateable value.

Penzance becomes the 205th BID in the UK and the eighth in Cornwall.

Penzance BID will begin on June 1, 2015. In order to provide funds for the projects a mandatory levy payments for the first ten months become due on June 1.