Business and community leaders have come together to kickstart a project to secure up to £25 million of government funding to transform in Loughborough's economic growth.

Charnwood Borough Council hosted the first meeting of the Loughborough Town Deal Board which will manage the development of a town investment plan and submission of bids to the Government's Town Deal initiative.

The deals aim to regenerate town centres, boost businesses and improve infrastructure and connectivity.

The Loughborough Town Deal Board is being co-chaired by Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, chief executive of Morningside Pharmaceuticals in Loughborough, and Cllr Jonathan Morgan, leader of Charnwood Borough Council.