TRADERS have given a thumbs up to Accrington's new £8million market development -- and hope it will help them recover from months of falling profits.

They joined business leaders and council officials on a guided tour of the new facility, between Broadway and Peel Street, which is set to open on April 15.

Over the last year flower beds have been removed from Broadway to make way for a series of new kiosks down the centre of the street.

By the end of this month traders will once again be under cover of the new glass-roofed facility.

Shoe stall holder Peter Crook said since the market stalls were moved outside onto Blackburn Road and Broadway last year to make way for the development his trade had dropped off by 70 per cent.

"It's been abysmal, really poor," he said." I have had to take on part-time employment to sustain the business. Anyone without the will would have thrown in the towel a long time ago.

"I'm really looking forward to moving into the new market. We have got to give it a try, and if it brings the customers here perhaps we can regain something we have lost.

"The new market looks great. It's Welsh slate on the roof and a Russian pine interior."

Fifteen years ago fruit and vegetable stall holder Duncan Alton took over the stall started by his father 40 years ago.

He said: "Initially we lost a lot of customers, they just didn't seem to like the disruption. But we have steadily built things back up to where they were. I'm looking forward to the new market. They have made an excellent job of it, it's a quality building."

The market will be linked to the town centre and the Arndale Centre by a walkway called Market Way.

Nigel Rix, director of Hyndburn First, has masterminded the regeneration of Accrington town centre. He said: "People used to say this was pie in the sky. "

Project manager Sean Barber said the project had been completed on budget. "Overall I think it's gone very well because it's been two building projects in parallel, the new market and the retail development, and keeping the live market trading."

Town centre manager Bill Huntly said: "I'm absolutely delighted because in a way it will really help draw the town together. With the market in the middle we are going to have a really strong town centre and hopefully we will be able to provide even more for our own residents and for visitors alike."

Michael Carney, president of Hyndburn Chamber of Trade said: "We have had several difficult months of trading due to the disruption and the works but look what a future we are creating in the town."

David Jones, manager of the Arndale Centre, said: "The coming months will be exciting for Accrington with the opening of this new market. It will certainly bring new people in."