Barrow Market traders to temporarily move for works

Refurbishment works will be carried out at Barrow Market over two years

Market traders in Barrow are to move into temporary accommodation later this summer while long-awaited renovation work begins.

The town's Market Hall is to be rebuilt as part of a multimillion-pound regeneration, set to take place over two years.

A specially-created market will be housed in The Mall, while some traders will move to units in the outdoor market on Portland Walk, while units in the former Meat Hall are completed.

Westmorland and Furness Council said more details will be released "as soon as they are finalised", and the market remains open.

The market hall is to be rebuilt as part of a £17.5m town centre revamp funded by the government.

Aphinya Tarnprasart says she is excited about the new market

Aphinya Tarnprasart - known to her customers as Tuk - has been running her stall Tuks Thai Foods for 20 years.

She said she was "not sad" about leaving her stall, adding: "I’m really quite excited about moving because I understand about the need to be redoing the market."

The council had planned for a phased approach to the refurbishment and asbestos removal, with traders remaining in place while work took place.

However, the Liberal Democrat-led authority said it reviewed the risks associated with undertaking the works within an active market and concluded it would be safer for it to be empty.

It said traders who did not wish to relocate were to be given support and compensation.

Meanwhile, the rooftop car park will permanently close from 1 July after a review found it was not being used much.

Steph Cordon, the council's director of thriving communities, said: "We understand the effect the upheaval will have on traders and are totally committed to creating a temporary market which traders and customers will enjoy being in while the works are carried out."

The Market Hall remains open until the move, with the Portland Walk, Stephen Street and Duke Street entrances still in use.