WORK to knock down Blackburn’s old three-day market hall, the first step in the redevelopment of the town centre and building of the £25m Cathedral quarter, is just days from completion.

The section will make way for a new temporary bus station when demolition is finished.

Blackburn with Darwen Council regeneration boss Maureen Bateson said: “We’re happy with the progress of the three-day market demolition, which is expected to be finished by the end of this month.

“After this, work will begin on the interim bus station, which will be finished by mid-September, and then the six-day market will be demolished.”

The Cathedral quarter includes a hotel, the first clergy court and cloister garden for a major church building for 570 years, restaurants, shops, a public square and bus interchange. Construction will start in September, with completion two years later.

The building of the new £5m permanent bus station on the Old Market site on Ainsworth Street will start in October.