SALISBURY is under the spotlight tonight with its annual Purple Flag Assessment taking place.

Two assessors will be touring the city to check whether it is "vibrant, safe and accommodating".

As part of the assessment they will ask questions of restaurant, pub, bar and club staff, interact with the police and door staff, and note the work of Street Pastors.

They will also look for safety issues, clean streets and watch how the taxis operate throughout the night before witnessing the dispersal as people go home in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Steve Godwin, business manager at Salisbury Business Improvement District, which is leading the assessment overnight from 5pm, said: "The assessors will be looking for evidence of appeal, movement, and vitality.

"They will start with a presentation given by 20 of the partners showing them how we meet their criteria. "Following that, they will join us as we journey with them through the early evening and experience the night time economy observing how interactive the city becomes."

The two assessors have been provided by the Association Town Centre Managers (ATCM).

Results of the assessment will not be known until January.

Mr Godwin said: "We welcome the Purple Flag inspection.

"We are proud of our city and believe it to be vibrant with a great mix of shops, pubs and restaurants.

"We have worked hard at developing strong partner relationships and our restaurants, pubs and clubs are aware that it is happening with several providing live music acts performing so it will be an interesting night.

"We expect the assessors to be particularly interested in Salisbury Playhouse and the City Hall, they will also walk down to the station to witness how people come into the city by train.

"Hopefully at the end of the night, they will provide us with a positive feedback so that we can continue to market the city with its Purple Flag status."