BUSINESS chiefs in the city are seeking to 'plug the gap' between the end of the working day and the start of a night out by organising a number of events in the Market Place.

Entitled Arts in the Square, the initiative is a collaboration between the Business Improvement District (BID) and the Salisbury Arts Centre.

All performances, films and activities take place between from 5pm and are free.

Steve Godwin from the BID said: "We have got live music, dance and films.

"We are trying to plug that gap in the middle when the city centre goes flat - between 5pm and 8pm.

"The idea is to organise a series of different things so people stay and have a drink or come in early for their night out.

"It's very much linked with our Purple Flag status, we are trying to enliven the city at that time.

"Next year we hope to put more resources into it. Businesses really want to extend their opening times but they can only do that if people are around to use them."

The first event, Music Uncovered, took place on August 5, featuring three different groups - Matuki, The Brittz and Emma and the Professor - from 5pm to 8pm.

The second event, Chance to Dance, takes place on Friday, September 2.

With performances and workshops by The Lock In, people will be able to see some of the UK's oldest forms of dance brought up to date with a dance show mixing folk, clog, sword and break dancing.

Local dance groups will perform alongside professionals while people will also be able try out some of the moves with informal drop-in workshops - including rapper sword, clog and breakdance.

And on Friday, October 7, two films will be shown on a big screen in the market square.

Fantastic Mr Fox will be screened at 6.45pm and then Star Trek into Darkness at 9.30pm.

For more details visit salisburyartscentre.co.uk