Shops and cafes in Braintree and Witham town centres could receive funding for a free to use Wi-Fi network in a bid to boost visitor numbers.

Business leaders are looking at ways to attract more shoppers and keep them in town.

Brenda Baker, chairman of Braintree Chamber of Trade, said: “For George Yard I believe we would need to have several smaller hubs. I have been advised that we would need a number of points to send it out from.

“It is something that we need to move towards, we have got to find out what we need to do and how we can pay for it. It is just part of the retail landscape these days.”

A spokesman for the council said funding could not be given to individual businesses but money could be made available if a joint scheme benefitted all of the businesses in the town centre.