LIVERPOOL'S annual week of business celebrations will kick off with a challenge to young film makers.

Downtown Week was launched last year and combines a celebration of the city centre's resurgence with the opportunity for traders in downtown Liverpool to boost business by encouraging more people to visit, lured by free attractions from special walks of interest to discount offers.

Local film-maker Ian Wadkin is behind Liverpool 48, a challenge to script, film and produce a short movie over 48 hours at the beginning of the June 10-18 event. Films will be posted on Liverpool48.com where viewers can vote for the winner.

Urban expert Tony Siebenthaler inspired the event. He said: "This is a celebration of the city and a marketing tool to increase the number of people coming into Liverpool to shop or visit attractions.

"Everyone can get on board as a partner. It's a generic concept that everyone can own. It's a celebration and it's a money-maker."

Last year was a success with 40 businesses participating, attracting about 4,000 people.

He added: "There are 20,000 businesses downtown so if all the retailers cotton on to this we are talking huge numbers."

Last year's event received international media exposure and Mr Siebenthaler said: "Because it's Liverpool, there is always that wider international interest."

He said the week chimes with the ECHO's own "Love Liverpool Love the ECHO" campaign: "It's not just a consumer centre to come and buy clothes; we love Liverpool. We would love everyone to take it up."

# For more information, visit www.downtownweek.info (http://www.downtownweek.info)

AN EVENT to draw thousands of people into Liverpool city centre is to become an annual fixture.

Downtown week attracted 4,000 people to museums, galleries and other attractions when it started last year.

And as organisers today revealed some of the itinerary for this year's event, they said its future had been guaranteed.

Urban expert Tony Siebenthaler started Downtown Liverpool to celebrate the city centre's resurgence. This year's event aims to build on that and will run from June 11-18.

The Civic Trust is set to take on the event with the aim of making it a major marketing tool to highlight Liverpool's progress.


Mr Siebenthaler said: "The Civic Trust is a national organisation and Civic Trust Merseyside is dynamic in its own right, involved in urbanism and conservation.

"The idea is that every year aweek will be designated Downtown Week, from the second to third Sunday every June.

"We are trying to get everyone to remember that Liverpool is a fantastic city and there is areal vibe back in the city and downtown is a really buzzing place again.

"Just get down and experience Liverpool. Visit a museum, spend a bit of money and experience the tremendous things that Liverpool people are creating once again."

The Civic Trust was founded in 1957 and is concerned with the quality of the built environment and its impact on people. Its patron is The Prince of Wales.

Events arranged during this year's Downtown Week include:

* A walk to reveal plans for the future of the Ropewalks area, organised by regeneration agency Liverpool Vision.

* A walking tour around the central business district and Princes Dock, looking at how great cities can, and should, change.

* Jazz and salsa nights and a farmers' market at Heart & Soul, Mount Pleasant.

* Mini seminar and networking event.

For more information, visit www.downtownweek.info/events.htm

Tony:

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/may2006/6/3/6C21550F-A89A-A0BE-9BDD3C10BA8D163F.jpg

Tony:

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/may2006/6/3/6C21550F-A89A-A0BE-9BDD3C10BA8D163F.jpg

Noticed that picture in the Echo tonight!