Belper is a town within the local government district of Amber Valley in Derbyshire, England. It is eight miles north of Derby, on the A6, by the River Derwent, and has a population of 20,548 (2001 census); Belper town council claims to be responsible for 10,000 households. It has regular bus services to Derby and to the north, to Ripley and many surrounding villages. Belper railway station is situated on the Midland Main Line, and is mainly served by local trains on the Derwent Valley Line Derby-Matlock service. As a relatively small town, it has three supermarkets (Morrisons, Somerfield, Co-op), supplemented by a small but busy shopping area mainly centred around King Street, several primary schools and a secondary school.