THE deadline for the Hereford BID Business Awards has been extended until tomorrow (Friday).

There is just one day left for Hereford BID members to enter the awards which celebrate what makes the city great.

There are 11 categories to enter and a twelfth award which is chosen by the judges from entries across the categories.

The BID are in the early stages of developing new pedestrian signage for the city centre, particularly in the BID area.

Georgia Smith, strategic lead for the BID, said they are looking to put new finger posts in the city centre and add new signs which will have maps on. They hope to do this in the autumn.

She said: "It will make it clearer and easier for people to find their way around.

"Lots has changed since the previous signage has been put in."

The majority of the member businesses are retailers, restaurants and pubs and the BID area covers the majority of the city centre within the old wall, as well as the Old Market development, and Commercial Road. A Business Improvement District (BID) is a defined geographical area, generally encompassing a city centre, in which businesses have agreed by way of a formal and legally binding ballot, to pay a small levy into a central pot to fund improvements in the area for a period of five years.

Improvements the BID has carried out already includes the pigeon netting in Church Street.

Mike Truelove, operations and marketing manager, said: "For years the pigeons have been really been making themselves at home. If you went through the archway to Church Street you took your life in your hands."

He said the birds had made a mess of the area and made it look unsightly.

So BID stepped in and added netting to the area which stopped the pigeons settling there. They also painted the walls.

So not only is the Hereford BID Awards about recognising the great shops and services in our city centre but also the organisation that is aiming to improve it even more.

There are 11 categories to enter which are: Hotel, Restaurant, Pub or Cafe of the Year; Business Services Provider; Independent Business; Customer Service; National Retailer; Best Presented; Outstanding Contribution; Putting Hereford City on the Map; Night Time Economy Business; Employee; and Employer.

And there is a Special Recognition award, chosen by the judges from all of the entries.

It is easy to nominate yourself for a Hereford BID award. Go to www.herefordtimes.com/hbidbusinessawards/

The awards evening will be at the Shirehall in Hereford on October 5.