A Kenilworth cleaning company has benefitted from council funding designed to boost the feel of the high street.

Kenilworth-based Bear Cleaning Ltd has this week given a new shine to Oaks Precinct by jet washing and re-sanding the paving outside the shops.

The company was awarded the contract by Warwick District Council via the government's Welcome Back Fund.

The grants were introduced to give local authorities funding to spruce up council-owned retail areas after lockdown.

Bear Cleaning was first approached to do the works by owner of Rumours Hair Salon Lesley Huus, who heard about the funding through the Kenilworth Chamber of Trade.

One of many firms which submitted quotes to the council, Bear Cleaning was chosen and started the works on Monday.

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The family-run business has been much affected during the pandemic, and has only started to properly return to commercial contracts since spring 2021.

Managing director Kate Hunter said to Nub News: "Quotes that we had waiting to be confirmed, we lost all of that overnight as well as our commercial bin contracts as they were all in hospitality, so that was really scary.

"But we have had amazing support locally and the domestic bins grew by almost 50 per cent during that lockdown period last summer. So we have done ok really and consider ourselves very lucky."

Kate, who is also vice-chair of the Kenilworth chamber, said she was pleased that the contract had come through businesses in the town working to support each other.

"My advice is get to know people," she said. "People talk to people and that has been our biggest learning curve. Since we started we have tried to get to know as many people as we could, not for the purpose of trying to get something out of them, but just because it's a great way to learn.

"Making contacts at the chamber it just ripples out. The more involved you can get locally, the more signposting you can get."

Bear Cleaning has now completed the finishing touches to the Oaks Precinct paving, in time for the weekend.

Kate added: "We have had some great feedback, and that is great really. When it is local, for us it is not just about making money, it is about making a difference in the local community and doing for them the best that you can."