Internet users all over the world will soon be able to go on a virtual tour of Heckmondwike, visiting shops, restaurants and places to stay.

The town's Chamber of Trade is the first in the country to subscribe to a website called City Visitor which is expected to be fully operational next month.

Keith Dyson, Calder Valley franchiser for City Visitor, helped traders establish the website.

"Heckmondwike is already on the website but the virtual tour of the town is not fully completed," he said. "It should be ready in February. The plan is to have virtual walks around the town, so you could walk along Westgate, for example."

Visitors who access the national City Visitor directory at www.city-visitor.com can click on a map of the country and then click on the north of England, where Heckmondwike is listed. Alternatively, they can go direct to www.heckmondwike.biz.

Kirklees Council provided a £2,500 grant towards regenerating the town and traders then added cash to buy the heckmondwike.biz address and launch it. They hope the new technology will boost visitor numbers to the town, which suffered following four months of disruptive roadworks by Transco.

The page is divided into sections on things like where to shop, eat and stay. A spotlight page features brief details of each of the 24 businesses which have already signed up.

Some businesses, such as Kool clothes in Westgate, owned by Abbass Koolaji, already have a full website featuring six pages about the shop.

"One of the pages on Abbass's website is a virtual tour of his premises, including a 360-degree camera inside the shop," said Mr Dyson, who added: "Heckmondwike Chamber of Trade is innovative in that it is the first in the country to set this up as a chamber and they are extremely committed to the town."

Any businesses interested in being added to the Heckmondwike website can contact Keith Dyson on 07720 560737 or at Keith.Dyson@city-visitor.com