IT CAN'T be more than a couple of hundred yards long, yet Kendal's Wildman Street packs in a versatile range of services, not to mention some serious examples on the local history front. As Gillian Cowburn found for Write-up Your Street - part of The Westmorland Gazette's continuing Love Local campaign - Wildman Street has an 'independent' air about it which contributes much to this thriving community.

IF MEDALS were dished out to those who epitomise the ethos of the 'Love Local' campaign, then Danny Askew would be one of the most deserving individuals.

"I live in Kendal and I love the people," said the enterprising 32-year-old boss of Lakes Movies.

He has had no choice but to diversify his DVD hire business in order not just to maintain, but also to increase footfall. To that end his customers can pick up a carton of locally-made 'Love Soup', and sandwiches produced fresh every day from just up the road at the Joshua Tree in Stramongate, as well as the latest film.

"It's all about bringing people into the shop," said Danny, who has also added an off-licence string to his bow.

"I wouldn't pay to be in the town centre because of the traffic system. There is a real sense of community in this street, and everybody is local."

In fact, although it is now under different ownership, Askew Cycles opposite was founded by Danny's father.

Next door to the cycle shop is one of of Wildman Street's longest-standing businesses, Sleddon Hall Antique Centre, which is housed in a Grade II listed former manor house, said to date from the early 1600s. It was founded by Charles Aindow and his brother Peter, who many will remember for his Kendal Studio Pottery, which numbered Liberty in London among its clients.

But the business is now run by the two surviving Aindow brothers, Robert and Andrew (they had two other brothers and a sister who have since passed away).

"You never needed to travel anywhere because this street had everything at one time," recalled Robert who remembers Wildman Street having a bakers, chemist, greengrocer, Co-op, butchers, grocer, cafe and wool shop.

"Although they are different businesses today, it is still a busy street and that is what makes it special. Everyone is very friendly and very helpful."

It was that very friendliness which prompted Tom Hartley to come out of retirement and fulfil a long-held ambition to run his own pub. Tom and his partner Jen Bowman have been in charge at the Prince of Wales Feathers for a year.

"I like the people here; it's a brilliant spot," said Tom, whose incumbency has resulted in the introduction of live entertainment on Saturdays and a facelift for the pub's hidden gem - a beer garden.

Something Tom and Jen weren't expecting was for the pub to have a ghost. Jen is convinced she has seen an apparition of the man who appears (second left) in a group of flat-capped bowlers in the Feathers' games area. Jen is trying to track down the ghost's identity - call her on Kendal 722433 if you know who it might be.

Of course, ghostly goings-on were also rumoured to be a regular occurrence across the road at Kendal's historic Grade I listed Castle Dairy, which is closed at the moment but hopefully re-opening as part of Kendal College's regeneration plans to turn the Wildman Street area into a major cultural and creative hub.

Creativity is the order of the day just a few doors up at Debonair, where hairdresser Debbie Capstick is celebrating 15 years in business.

"What I like about Wildman Street is that it is still very central but yet slightly out of town," said Kendalian Debbie. "And with all the building work that has gone on around here (the riverside and Ann Street housing developments), I think it's going to become a really popular part of town."

Although he has a warehouse in Kendal, Wildman Street is quite literally Nigel Byrom's shop window.

His family has been 'furnishing' Kendal for 75 years and, although the business has had various 'homes' around Kendal's town centre, Mr Byrom reckons he could "see how the town (centre) was going to go" and so decided to move to Wildman Street.

"I am passionate about my town but if we had stayed in the town centre we wouldn't have been able to have deliveries from large lorries."

Hundreds of people walk up and down Wildman Street every day which is why Sue Nicholson picked it for her daughter Hannah's beauty business, Bellissimo.

"We did our homework. This is a main road into town, a really busy little street, and a good place to be."

Add to the equation Wildman Street's 'cornerstones' which include a garage (Henry Jackson's), both the landmark Riverside and County Hotels, and a newsagents, plus catering equipment, antique pine, vintage clothing and an Indian restaurant and you have a truly eclectic mix.