A NEW timetable has been revealed for work to start on Accrington's long-awaited £8million market square development -- just a week before it was originally due to open.

Two years ago market traders were told the massive year-long project was likely to be completed by Easter 2002. But heated legal negotiations led to hold-ups.

Work is due to begin next month.

Hyndburn council leader Peter Britcliffe, speaking at a meeting of the Accrington town centre regeneration board, said: "We are very pleased this is finally happening for real. I think I first saw the plans in 1996 -- or was it 1896?"

He warned that building work would cause inconvenience. "You can't make an omelette without cracking eggs. But what we have at the moment simply will not do. We have to do something about it.

"It's wonderful news. Most small towns like ours are not getting this kind of development."

Work on the £8million project willl last more than a year. The two companies involved are Leicester-based developer Helical Retail and Accrington Broadway, a company set up by Bilsdale Properties to undertake and finance the development.

The first stage will see existing flower beds in Broadway removed to make way for a series of new kiosks to be built to encourage 'shopper flow' between the Arndale Centre and the new market.

The revised timetable is:

Relocation of fish market traders -- mid-April

Start of Broadway works -- early May

Market Hall basement storage works -- early May

Fish market demolition -- early May

Relocation of market stalls to Broadway -- late May to mid-June

Handover open market site for development -- late July

Start main contract works -- late July

Relocate market traders from Broadway to new pavilions -- early January 2003

Scheme completed -- May 2003

Nigel Rix, director of Hyndburn First, the area's regeneration agency, said: "The purpose of undertaking this scheme is to improve shopping in the heart of the town centre.

"It will effectively ensure that shoppers from the Arndale Centre can move through to the market and beyond into the Peel Street and Church Street area where there are some wonderful independent shops.

"But the shoppers also have a responsibility to make the market a success by using it."