A MAJOR national conference on the future of market towns is to be staged in Ludlow.

Action for Market Towns, a national charity and campaigning group, will be running its National Convention in Ludlow today (Thursday).

The conference is the flagship annual event for the g roup which represents market and small towns all over the UK.

Delegates will be met by Ludlow mayor John Aitken and the convention will be staged at the Assembly Rooms.