New stalls craned into Northampton's market square

The first four market stalls from Italy have been dropped into the market square by crane

Steel stalls from Italy are being dropped by crane into a market square as part of a regeneration project.

The first four structures have been installed at the market in Northampton, which is currently closed while work takes place.

There will be 18 structures in place by the time the site gets reopened next summer.

One stallholder said the stalls had met his specifications and were "fantastic".

Traders were moved out of the market square earlier this year, so an £8.5m refurbishment project could get under way.

The retailers were relocated to a car park on Commercial Way on the edge of the town centre, where many of them have complained about trade being slow.

Part of the regeneration includes new permanent stalls, but West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) discovered that fabricators in the UK were not equipped to supply the stalls required.

A deal was struck with an Italian-based firm and the first four of the permanent steel structures were constructed off site and lifted into the square by crane.

Jamie Chalmers, from WNC, said the stalls were equipped with shutters to provide security at night

Jamie Chalmers, WNC's principal regeneration officer, said: "These are steel structures, so they're permanent - they've got power, water supplies, and shutters that come down and provide security at night.

"Six more will arrive after Christmas and then a further eight in February, so that was a really important milestone on the project."

WNC said the arrival of the stalls was "a major milestone" in the project

Elliott Jones sells flowers and fruit, and said he had been involved in discussions with the council about the new stalls.

He said: "Being six foot five, they look fantastic.

"They're a lot taller than I thought and they've got awnings which I asked for as well, because selling flowers, fruit and veg, you want to have the ability to protect your stock. So, from first impressions, fantastic."

Elliott Jones, a market trader who has temporarily relocated to a shopping centre, said the new stalls looked "fantastic"

Adrian Barnes from the contractors, Stepnell, said: "We're doing similar work across the Midlands, but none of them are going to have got the stalls you're going to have in Northampton, so the traders should be quite excited."

WNC said work was well under way on a water feature to the west of the site, and cobbles from the original market square were being reused as part of the new surface.

Adrian Barnes, from Stepnell, said traders should be excited about the new stalls