COLOURFUL traditional markets could be the future for Accrington, the town's leaders claimed today.

And they have appealed to the town's shoppers to support them to ensure they remain a commercial success.

This week shoppers were given the opportunity to browse round both a pot fair and an artists' market in the town centre.

Leaders have welcomed the unusual stalls to the town, and suggested that Accrington - unable to compete with big, out-of-town retail parks or shopping centres like Blackburn - could use the markets to attract customers.

Today the leader of the council revealed that plans were in the pipeline to attract more often the out-of-town traders who run the stalls.

Coun Peter Britcliffe said: "It isn't easy to get these things in but we are looking to continue to develop this.

"We have got the pot fair this week and there are plans to bring the European market back. It's a very good thing and it's something that we need to continue examining, but we have to be careful because of the availability of these markets.

"They travel around from place to place and everywhere likes them to come along. But it's extremely good and makes Accrington a better place to visit. It gets people in and it's a successful attraction."

This week the annual Staffordshire Pot Fair, on Broadway, is expected to bring visitors from far and wide.

The fair also coincided with an artists' market.