KIDDERMINSTER has been given a much-needed boost with a £100,000 cash injection to tackle empty shops in the town centre.

Wyre Forest District Council has been given a slice of the Government’s multi-million pound High Street Innovation Fund, and the cash will be spent entirely in Kidderminster.

The fund was drawn up by the Government following a high street review by retail guru Mary Portas, to help address the issues of empty shops and to encourage business start-ups.

Conservative councillor John Campion, district council leader, said: “It’s excellent news. We’ve got lots of plans through Rewyre.

“The issue of bringing empty shops back into use in Bewdley, Kidderminster and Stourport was one of the key topics discussed at the recent State of the Area Debate.

“What we will do is use the money to improve what we were going to do already. It’s allowing us to go that extra mile and is a ringing endorsement of what we’re doing locally already.”

The £10 million government fund is given to areas with the highest number of empty shops and businesses and the district council is one of 11 authorities that will benefit from the cash.

It will come as good news to the town, which currently has 40 empty shops in the town centre, after it was announced Game Station, in Worcester Street, would be the latest shop to close down.

TJ Hughes, Topshop and Dorothy Perkins all closed last year.

The district council’s budget for 2012-13 includes £1 million investment to support the local economy.

It said it would now look at using some of its funding to match the Government’s grant, along with contributions from the private sector, to achieve the maximum impact.