Bootle in Merseyside, on the west coast of England is home to more than 70,000 people.

Although Bootle has been a settlement since at least 1086, its growth really took off with the arrival of the railway in the 1840s.  Docks were built, and the town rapidly industrialised to take advantage of its transport links.

You can see from the splendid town hall, that Bootle was a wealthy town at the time it was built.

Bootle has successfully fought against being absorbed by its much larger neighbour Liverpool - and has a strong sense of identity and civic pride.

Unfortunately the docks made Bootle a target for bombing in the second world war, and the town was heavily damaged.

After the war, Bootle was redeveloped, and in the 60s the Bootle New Strand shopping centre was built, but as the docks declined, so did the prosperity of the town.

Today, there is more regeneration going on in Bootle including redevelopment of Strand Road, and public sector building projects including the Health and Safety Executive and Council buildings.

The docks are also being re-developed to handle modern vessels, which is expected to boost the local economy.

Today, the New Strand Shopping Centre offers shoppers many familiar high street shops to visit.