A new contractor has been appointed for the £500,000 refurbishment of Haslingden Market.

Work on the site is set to begin at the end of July, which will include levelling and resurfacing the floor, renovating and reopening the public toilets, and improving the trader communal area.

The open-air area will be used for music and theatre performances with temporary seating, mini-festivals, and one-off artisan markets.

Cabinet member on Rossendale Council and chair of the Haslingden 2040 Board, Councillor Adrian Lythgoe, said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of B&E Boys as the new main contractor and that the refurbishment of Haslingden Market will be completed by mid-October.

“Once reopened the market will offer local residents and visitors a fantastic social hub and bring extra life to the centre of town.”

Rossendale Council is spending £200,000 on the refurbishment and the remaining £300,000 is from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Work on the market was temporarily delayed when the council served notice on the previous contractor due to timescales for the completion of works not being met.

Councillor Lythgoe said: “We would like to thank everyone, especially market traders, for their patience and understanding, during the delay and we are pleased that B&E Boys Ltd is committed to completing the project as soon as possible.”