PEOPLE are being urged to support Blackburn’s first-ever German Christmas Market rather than trek to Manchester as commuters face more disruption on Northern trains.

Blackburn with Darwen Council regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said it would be an opportunity for people to have a taste of the Christmas market in Blackburn.

The full scale Christmas market will open on the town’s Cathedral Square tomorrow (Thursday) and last for 25 days this year.

Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to pack the festive event which will have 26 specially-imported chalets and children’s fairground attractions.

Read more: German Christmas markets coming to Blackburn's Cathedral Square

The call has been made as Northern train services to Manchester Christmas Markets are set to be affected by RMT strike action on Saturday.

There will also be no trains from Bolton to the markets, which would affect commuters coming from Blackburn.

This is due to engineering work and rail replacement buses will be in operation.

Sheffield Wednesday fans heading to their game against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday will also be hit by the strike action, as there are no Northern trains between Sheffield and Leeds or Leeds and Blackburn.

Full details for Blackburn's new German Christmas markets

Cllr Riley said: “For the first time ever, there will be a Christmas market in the centre of Blackburn.

“It will be an opportunity for local people and people in nearby towns nervous about going to Manchester because of the rail disruption to have a taste of a German Christmas Market locally.

“There may also be people who find it attractive not to go to Manchester due to the stress of crowded trains.”

The market will open from 10.30 am to 6pm Sunday to Wednesday and until 9pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Read more: Blackburn's Christmas market is filling up fast

It comes as Northern announced details of the services it will operate for the RMT strike action on Saturday, December 1 and the following four Saturdays.

The action, as part of the long-running dispute over guards on trains, will see Northern running around 700 services during each Saturday – but with very few Northern services running after 5pm.

David Brown, managing director at Northern, said: “We are aiming to keep as many people moving as possible and ensuring customers can still travel into the biggest towns and cities for the big seasonal events including Christmas markets – but with very few services running after 5pm."

The Department for Transport and Transport for the North have since made a commitement for a second person to be retained on board Northern services.

Mr Brown added: "There is no reason for the RMT to continue its disruptive and economically damaging strikes in the build up to Christmas.

"I look forward to RMT suspending their December strikes, and accepting my long-standing invitation to get back round the table at ACAS to resolve their dispute.”