FLOURISHING Bury Market is being used as a showcase to the rest of the region.

A delegation of officers will arrive from Chorley Borough Council this week to find out the secrets of its success.

With markets up and down the country shrinking in the face of huge competition from out-of-town superstores, Bury's "world famous" market continues to prosper, say council chiefs.

Chorley runs its own successful Flat Iron Market, but will tour the Bury stalls on Wednesday to see why it is rated as one of the best in the country and why it was included in The Independent newspaper's top ten food markets.

Bury Council's markets and business services manager, John Ayres, said: "Food is only one aspect of the goods on sale, but it's good to know that the mouth-watering treats to be found rank amongst the best in Britain."

The market has more than 370 stalls on a site the size of more than ten football pitches. More than 250,000 people visit the market every week.

Added Mr Ayres: "For more than 500 years, the market has dominated the consumer retail sector in the area, attracting shoppers in their thousands.

"With 200,000 square feet of selling area and 50,000 products, we reckon that Bury Market is the best."