PENDLE Council is to spend more on promoting Colne Market in a bid to increase customers.

The local authority’s budget for publicising the market will rise from £4,000 a year to £20,000 and a new logo and brand identity will be adopted.

Meetings have been held between the management team, council communication officers and mark-et traders to discuss the plans.

Michael Maybury, who runs Michael’s Butchers in the market, said: “The investment is welcome but parking is the issue. It needs to be made clearer where people can park and how long for.

Mike, a fundraising officer who looks after the Samaritans Charity Bookstall, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic news.

"More people have come into the market recently and I don’t think there are any empty stalls now, when in the past there have been half a dozen empty at times.”

Tony Brown, of Liberata Property Services, which manages the market, said: “The strategy will make use of a number of different delivery routes including media advertising, banner and poster advertising at the market sites, a dedicated market website and new opportunity routes, which may include bus advertising and local radio if funds permit.

“Colne Market has never had a brand identity or market logo. The council’s communication team has prepared three designs, one of which has proved popular with market traders and council officers during consultation, incorporating a traditional Pendle Witch.”

Other options for the logo include using the arches from Colne’s train viaduct and using a lion from Colne’s heraldic shield.