Ealing Council has decided to invest £263,000 in sprucing up local shop fronts to attract customers.

Under the shop front improvement scheme, local businesses will be offered grants up to £2,000 to improve signage, lighting and decorations, with the aim of making shops more attractive and increasing footfall.

Each business will be expected to contribute up to £1,000 themselves and it is expected around 80 businesses will benefit over the next three years. The council will also fund all design, planning and administration costs.

From spring 2014, the offer will be available to businesses in Southall, Hanwell, West Ealing, Greenford, Ealing Broadway, Acton, Northolt, Perivale, Northfields, South Ealing and Pitshanger.

Around 80 businesses have already benefitted from the scheme and, in a recent survey of 43 of those businesses, 72% said the improvements to their shop front had attracted new customers and 61% said it had a positive impact on turnover.

Councillor Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council, said: "This programme is part of our ongoing work to support local businesses and sits alongside our free Christmas parking and shopping parade improvements. Ealing has some fantastic shops and I consider this money to be a sound investment in their future, and the future of our borough."

"The scheme has been a great success so far and I hope that other shop owners will take up our offer."