LOYAL customers will be rewarded with free health and leisure sessions to entice shoppers into Darwen Market.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's regeneration department has organised the link-up with Darwen Leisure Centre to continue to breathe new life into the market area.

From Monday, customers who spend over two pounds in one of the town's three markets will be given a sticker to collect. Only two stickers can be obtained from one trader to make people visit a variety of stalls.

Once five have been collected, they can be exchanged for a free swim, indoor bowls, light exercise or a health consultation session at the leisure centre.

The scheme was launched following the introduction of a similar scheme in Blackburn last year.

Council officers claim that Darwen Market is one of the best places in the borough to buy fresh fruit, food, fish, vegetables and poultry.

And they believe customers attracted by the scheme into the five-day markets in the Market Hall, its annex or the three-day market, will continue to shop there.

This is the third piece of good news for Darwen Markets in the past two weeks, after a rent reduction scheme to attract new traders, and a £10,000 face lift to the market hall were announced.

Annexe stall holder Alec Boyland took over A and M Fruit and Veg last August and welcomed the scheme. He said it would help on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday when the market was quieter.

"It's a great idea but I am not sure it will be practical handing out vouchers while I've got a queue of people when I am busy on a Friday," he said.

"At the end of the day our customers come first and this could help get them in."

Michael Lions, manager of Darwen Leisure Centre, said a similar scheme organised with Blackburn Market had been a success.

"It's an excellent link between the market and the leisure centre and is a great opportunity for the community of Darwen to keep healthy and help the traders," he said.

He added that no end date had been set for the scheme at the moment.

Councillor Ashley Whalley, executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: "With its central location and free parking, Darwen Market is one of the best places in the borough to buy fresh food -- meat, fish and poultry, fruit and vegetables and other delicacies, as well as just about everything else you could imagine.

"This scheme will not only encourage people to buy goods on the market, it will also encourage people to get fit using the great facilities available at Darwen Leisure Centre."