AS Ramadan heads into the final week, many people will now be preparing for the Eid festival.

While some businesses were closed during the holy month, others were open late into the night.

With fasting finishing at close to 9.45pm and then evening prayers going on to midnight, a night economy seemed to spring up almost instantly.

Takeaways and restaurants had a small amount of time to prepare and serve food to customers.

Many takeaway staff were inundated with orders from 8pm and, of course, everyone wanted the food piping hot at 9.45pm.

One of the busiest businesses late evening was the Marhaba Ice Cream Bar & Sweets Centre based on Victoria Street in Blackburn.

For those attending late-evening prayers, a visit to sweet centres such as Marhaba was an opportunity to share a moment with friends before the fasting began again the next day.

On the weekends, the sweet centre proved very busy, with staff working late into the evening.

Again there was a normally a very short window of opportunity.

Quisar Razzaq, of Marhaba, said: “The staff have been working hard throughout the month of Ramadan.

“Understandably, everyone tends to turn up at once which puts extra pressure on us but they all take it in their stride.

“The late evenings have been particularly busy with people leaving mosques and then heading out to have an ice cream or a milk shake.

“With it being really hot last week, in the evenings people also liked to come and purchase one of our signature shakes just before Iftari (sunset) time too.

“Our freshly made Italian gelato proved really popular.

“We would like to wish everyone a peaceful Ramadan and Eid and thank them for their patience.”