Beverley's Saturday Market re-launched after £2.6m upgrade

The road surface has been repaired and new parking spaces have been created at the Saturday Market

A historical East Yorkshire market has been re-launched after a £2.6m upgrade.

Work to repair the road surface, improve drainage and accessibility at the Saturday Market in Beverley began in January last year.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council said it had created new parking spaces and reduced "street clutter", such as signs, posts and road markings.

The weekly market, which dates back to the 12th Century, continued throughout the refurbishment work.

Trader Peter Kirkwood, of East Riding Country Park, said: "Unfortunately it caused a little bit of disruption, but now that it's finished it's certainly made a big improvement.

"It's a non-slip surface and I think everybody will benefit from it."

The work to repair the damaged road surface and improve drainage began in January 2013

Nigel Leighton, the council's director of environment and neighbourhood services, said: "We are confident that the new-look Saturday Market provides Beverley with a space that will help it maintain its place as one of the country's most vibrant market towns.

"There are still some works to complete, such as cabling for the new market electrical system and minor finishing works, and we hope that people will bear with us whilst we finish the job."

The council's original plan to remove the stone setts, or cobblestones, from the market place was met with protests.

The revised scheme saw most of the setts taken up and re-laid, with others removed and stored for future use in the town.