WORK is under way on the final stage of the £1.5million renovation of a historic listed town hall.

The Grade II-listed building in the middle of Accrington has already seen three phases of renovation including the full restoration of the ballroom with new bar and stage facilities and access to the refurbished second floor balcony.

Previous renovations included improvements to first and second floor toilets and the refitting of the first-floor kitchen.

The existing first-floor supper room was also refurbished while a new cocktail lounge and the Pals Heritage Centre have been created.

Now, work on the fourth phase of the renovation programme for Accrington Town Hall, which started in 2016, has begun.

The ground-floor redevelopment will see the offices and tourist information centre removed, and replaced by a range of functional spaces for smaller events, wedding ceremonies, conferences and family activities.

Work on the19th century building, owned by Hyndburn Borough Council, is due to last 20 weeks, with a grand opening expected in September.

The ballroom remains available for hire and existing bookings of the venue are unaffected.

Cllr Miles Parkinson, leader of Hyndburn Council, said: “It’s wonderful the final stage of the transformation of our historic Accrington Town Hall is happening.

“The lighting system outside it highlights its stunning architecture and the transformation of the magnificent ballroom has already made it a popular destination for weddings and many other celebrations.”

Cllr Tony Dobson, leader of the council’s Conservative group, said: “This latest phase of work on this glorious building is welcome but steps need to be taken to ensure the surrounding area matches the town hall’s high standards.”

Lyndsey Sims, chief executive of tenant Hyndburn Leisure, said: “The ballroom at Accrington Town Hall is an absolute gem. The final phase of this development will bring the rest of the building up to the same high standards.”

The work has been complemented by the £2m town square development.