CHARITIES are to be given free market stalls in a move that councillors hope will brighten markets and benefit the wider Rossendale community.

The idea is that using empty stalls will keep markets busy and help charities raise vital funds that benefit projects in Rossendale and elsewhere.

It was inspired by one of Rossendale Council's key priorities of building confident communities.

Councillor David Hancock, Rossendale Council deputy leader, said: "We had a similar scheme before but that involved charities paying for the stalls and then claiming the money back.

"It was a bureaucratic process that put charities off and cost the council more to administer than the small amounts were worth.

"They can now just ask for a stall on any of our markets and be given it for free. We already have the stalls and they may as well be used for everyone's benefit.

"Building confident communities is one of the eight objectives we have set ourselves to achieve by 2008. The public spiritedness of such charities helps build more cohesive communities."

Each charity will be entitled to one free stall per month.