A welcome friendly face, help finding the right product or simply advice on where to go in the town can help to make shopping a much more pleasant experience.

And now Lowestoft Vision - the Business Improvement District (BID) set up to help improve the town centre - is launching a competition to find and reward the town's best customer service advisers.

The organisation is working with store managers from Boots, Marks and Spencer and Santander to find the area's 'customer heroes' - people who go out of their way to help others.

It is hoped the scheme, which launches today, will stimulate pride in the area and reward those who work in and around the town centre.

Darren Newman, Lowestoft Vision BID manager, said: 'Throughout Lowestoft we hear about the wonderful lengths that staff go to that create these experiences and Lowestoft Vision wants to reward these efforts and thank members of staff for their endeavours.

'To do this, we need your help to assist us with identifying these wonderful people in our town.

'So if you have been provided with fantastic product information, been given a recommendation on a place to visit or another service in the town or simply been assisted with your shopping experience, we would like to have your nominations and hear your stories.

'The idea of the scheme is to promote Lowestoft as a friendly place to shop and enjoy a great customer experience.

'The hundreds of staff members employed in our local shops and services work extremely hard to create an enjoyable experience.

'It is these staff which we want to reward and highlight the efforts they go to.'

Nomination cards will be located in local shops, businesses and services for customers to complete when they have received exceptional service.

Each month Lowestoft Vision will collect the cards and a judging panel, made up of representatives from Lowestoft Vision and those involved in its Heathly High Street programme, will select a winner.

People whose nominations win will have the chance of winning a £25 Lowestoft Voucher, which can be spent in a wide range of shops across the town.

Rob Jackson, store manager at Marks and Spencer in Lowestoft and a Healthy High Street champion, said: 'Our aim is to raise pride in the town, which will in turn increase footfall and employment opportunities.

'The customer hero campaign highlights the wonderful range of services on offer in Lowestoft which customers can experience.'

For more information, contact Lowestoft Vision on 01502 502205 or email darren@lowestoftvision.co.uk

Do you know an unsung hero who deserves recognition for the work they do in the community? Tell The Journal by calling 01502 525825 or email lowestoft.journal@archant.co.uk