AFTER months of construction, Darwen’s new Market Square is now officially finished.

The £1.5million project has transformed the area to the front of the town hall and market, boasting a large outdoor area for events.

Seating has also been added as well as colourful landscaping with the addition of some beautiful flower beds.

The names of soldiers from Darwen who died during the First World War have also been captured in new light boxes erected along the perimeter wall.

Executive member for growth and development at Blackburn with Darwen council Phil Riley said: “I’m incredibly proud to see what’s been achieved with the new Market Square.

“This has been a big project for Darwen with significant investment and the end result really is impressive.

“The square is something new for the town, something different and something that will draw in visitors and attract shoppers with the aim of supporting our local traders and offering a welcome boost going forward.”

Companies from across Darwen have been involved in creating the finished look with WEC Group making and installing the seating and street furniture.

Steel fabricators, SDS Albion Engineering refurbished the railings and provided the feature metal screen while ATG provided and installed the bollards.

Cllr Riley added: “The whole project has been a real team effort with residents offering their input and ideas through consultations, the Darwen Town Centre Partnership offering their support and groups including volunteers from the Darwen Heritage Centre providing the names of the fallen soldiers.

“Everyone has pulled together and the square has created a real talking point – particularly the peregrine falcon at the centre.”

Darwen town councillor, Cllr Paul Browne, echoed Cllr Riley’s comments but said he was indifferent to the falcon statue.

Cllr Browne said: “I think everything about the new square is fantastic apart from that falcon that’s stuck in the middle.

“Half of the people in Darwen will back me up about that too. What they should’ve done is put the Spitfire in the middle instead.

“However, I will say this, the war commemorations are great as is the seating and the open space and this is going to be great for Darwen, especially with events like Darwen Live being held here.”

To celebrate the completion, a video documenting the creation of the statue has been released. It offers an insight in to how artist Liam Hopkins came up with the concept and brought his idea to life.