Leicester is a city in the East Midlands with close to 350,000 inhabitants. It is one of the oldest cities in Britain and one of the earliest to industrialise. Manufacturing remains an important but now much smaller part of the local economy (particularly textiles, clothing and shoes), while the services sector continues to grow. In terms of population, Leicester is one of the fastest growing cities in Britain and its population has become one of the most ethnically diverse in the country.