A Lovejoy trail could be the key to rejuvenating Halstead town centre.

This was one of many ideas put forward by traders, residents and councillors who attended a crisis meeting on Tuesday night called Keeping Halstead Alive.

In the popular BBC series, Ian McShane plays the dodgy dealer and a number of his antics were filmed in the town.

At the meeting, Kevin Bentley, deputy to the leader of Essex County Council, said: “I have often wondered why there’s never been a Lovejoy trail.

“I don’t think you have ever capitalized on that and I think you should to attract people here as a tourist destination.”

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