BOSSES at the Arndale Centre are determined to bring the feel-good factor back to Accrington this summer and dispel a number of headaches surrounding the town centre.

Market traders have raised concerns shoppers are avoiding the town since the relocation of the bus station to Cannon Street, claiming the ongoing work to remove the shelters on Peel Street is not helping.

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And the number of stallholders showing up for at the Saturday open market appears to have dropped off, amid suggestions that older customers are either staying away or not prepared to walk from the new interchange.

But management at the Arndale Centre are attempting to turn the tide with a series of Saturday showstoppers, including a crowd-pleasing turn by Del Boy Trotter look-a-like Steve Rooney at the weekend.

The wheeler dealer even brought along his three-wheeled van as he posed for dozens of snaps with shoppers inside the arcade.

One Shopper Bill Diamond, 72, who is from Bolton and was visiting family locally, said: “This is just the sort of thing you need to cheer people up. Never mind the doom and gloom, Accrington’s still OK in my book.”

Centre manager Zain Kiyani said: “Our Del Boy has been very popular. He’s been bringing a smile to people’s faces and chatting with both the tenants and the customers.

“This is the first time we’ve done something like this in the 16 years that I’ve been here. I’m a big fan so my children know who he is. But he’s definitely caught on with a certain age group.”

Leon Davies, supervisor at the nearby H Samuel Jewellers, said: “It’s been really popular today, which is great because it has been a bit quiet lately.”

The previous weekend the centre hosted the exotic world of Dr Zoolittle and, with everything from tarantulas and snakes to ducks and guinea pigs on show.

this coming Sunday, (Aug21) the centre will also team up with the Cogheads Motorcycle Club to stage a bike show and family fun day, behind the Arndale, from 11am.

There will be live music will come courtesy of from The Switch and Ginpit, with an exotic creatures stand is planned. All proceeds will go to the Rough Lee Home in Accrington.

The centre will also host a Caribbean music trio inside. And, on August 27, there will be Ricardo’s Punch and Judge and magic shows.