Fatal fire-hit road reopens to vehicles

Kirkby Lonsdale's Market Street reopened to vehicles on Friday evening

A road which has been closed since a fatal fire last year has reopened to vehicles.

One man died after a blaze ripped through a flat in the centre of Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, in December.

Westmorland and Furness Council said reopening Market Street would "reconnect" the town after the width of scaffolding on the street was reduced.

More than 100 residential properties and 84 business in the town centre were directly impacted by the "devastating" fire, the council said.

The one-way system down Market Street onto Main Street reopened on Friday evening to vehicles below 7.5 tonnes.

Councillor Virginia Taylor said: "Reconnecting the town in this way is a major milestone in the town's recovery."

Additional concrete blocks were brought in to counterbalance the change in scaffolding, the local authority said.

It also said work had been done to remove rubble, which would lessen the number of road closures needed when rebuilding work started.

The fire ripped through the town centre in December

Work was also carried out to improve the pedestrian footway at St Mary's Court.

The council said hoarding would be put up in the coming weeks and fencing would be replaced.

The diversion for HGVs will remain between Hop House Lane to the A65, the local authority said.