FOOTFALL in Blackburn’s new shopping centre has increased by 20 per cent in the past year, it has been revealed.

The increase comes as the new £8million market, in the ground floor of The Mall, was opened.

Traders said the rise, compared to just before the £66million extension to The Mall opened last July, was ‘great news’ and evidence of the town’s recovery.

Darwen Street jeweller Phil Ainsworth, of the town centre partnership, said: “Twenty per cent is quite significant.

There has been a lot of investment recently, and it’s good to see it’s paying off.

“We are certainly seeing more people walking around the Church Street and Darwen Street areas.”

The opening of the market was the latest stage in the multimillion pound regeneration of the town centre.

The old market building, in Ainsworth Street, is almost empty and will be demolished once the final shops move out.

Developers are eyeing up the site, including The Mall, and would like to create a larger shopping centre by closing Ainsworth Street to traffic.

Official footfall figures covering the new market area will be released in the coming weeks.

Lorraine Jones, general manager of The Mall Blackburn, said: “We are delighted that early figures indicate once again that visitor numbers to The Mall Blackburn have increased significantly.

“The week of the opening of the stunning new Blackburn Market was a particularly busy period with footfall increasing by over 20 per cent year on year.”