A Ross Gazette journalist was just one of the 1,400 people attending Mary Portas' sell-out event at last week's Hay Festival. MP Jesse Norman, who sponsored the event, welcomed the TV retail guru – and even invited her back to visit Ross.

The self-styled 'Mary Queen of Shops' came to the Festival to talk about her plans to revive high street shopping up and down the country, following her review of high street retailing for the government last year. She talked passionately about all members of the community having a stake in their high streets, being creative in their revival, supporting markets. She said that people need to 'get YOUR councillors to listen to what people want for the town.'

Afterwards she visited shops with Jesse talking to local retailers, setting out her ideas and drawing a crowd of interested spectators.

Jesse Norman MP has been a strong supporter of local shops in Herefordshire, launching a local guide to good shops in 2009. Most recently he enthusiastically backed the bid by Ross to become a Portas Pilot town.

Commenting afterwards, he said: "It is great to have Mary Portas come to Hay, and her event was terrific. But I couldn't resist inviting her to Ross! Especially given all the fantastic work which has been done by local people on the Portas Pilot bid."