Blackburn’s new market opened for business on Wednesday but is it hitting the mark? Lancashire Telegraph retail correspondent Gill Johnson delivers her verdict. I admit here and now that I’ve never been a big customer at local markets.

I keep telling myself that it’s a habit I should change, though, because supporting independent traders and businesses, rather than just continually putting money into the tills of national retailers, is a far more moral way to shop.

The Lancashire Telegraph has promoted a ‘love local’ shopping mantra for a two years now and it’s one we should all take to heart.

So it was with keen interest that I paid a first visit to Blackburn’s spanking new addition to its town centre — the £8million market.

And it seems to have captured the imagination of others, too, for although it was early in the day when I took a walk around the modern stalls, manned by smart, smiling traders, the place was already a hive of activity.

It already has a buzz about it, a bustle that seemed to have gone missing from the old place and that has to be helped by the fact that the market is now part and parcel of the shopping centre.

An escalator whisks you down to its heart from the shopping mall and with the town’s new stores continuing to attract increased footfall, that can only benefit the businesses that have agreed to become part of the new venture and serve their clientele six days a week.

And the entrance from Church Street is also colourful and welcoming, with a greeting cards stall flying a host of multi-hued balloons.

OK, the market is not yet full, but that does not detract even now from what will hopefully become a must shopping trip for both local shoppers and visitors.

Markets are renowned for selling a cornucopia of goods and that’s already very much in evidence — you can buy, for instance, a curry or a cushion, asparagus or an apron.

One feature that did particularly impress me was the fresh food stalls all set out together and the wealth of produce on offer.

There are such a variety of butchers, fishmongers, greengrocers, cooked meat and cheese stalls that you can do all your weekly food shopping here — I reckon I’ve been converted!