BURNLEY took another step in its "complete rehabilitation"- the words of the town's development committee chairman, Coun Frank Bailey - in 1969, when its new, £600,000 twin markets were opened.

In an innovative move, the market and open market were built at first floor level - a first for the north west.

And Coun Bailey promised: "Other steps will follow until, ultimately, Burnley will be completely rebuilt from the cotton town we once knew."

The markets complex was part of the £5million town centre redevelopment plan, due to be completed in the early 1970s, and comprised 260 stalls, 104 of which were under cover.

And although they featured all mod cons', some old traditional features were retained - the good folk of Burnley were not to be parted from their Saturday treat of hot black puddings.

Jack Nuttall's black pudding stall had been a feature of the town's market since the war and he took over one of the modern shops within the hall, to continue plying his trade.

Padiham trader Stanley Bradshaw, who had run a tripe stall for 16 years, was also upbeat about the move to the modern building.

Rents for stallholders at the new market were around £40 a week, which compared with 4s 3d a day, a 100 years earlier.

The previous market hall, which remained standing despite several demolition attempts, dated back to 1870 and had been built at a cost of £12,306.