A NEW market will open for business in Darlington on Thursday.

The move comes as the controversial Pedestrian Heart scheme is nearing completion. The market will be in West Row every Thursday.

As well as the new outdoor market, traders who are in the Market Square on Saturdays and Mondays will be moving, so their stalls are situated around the covered market from Saturday.

It is hoped new traders will sign up for the Thursday market.

Pitches, available from 9am to 5pm, are £25 including a gazebo and lighting.

Darlington Borough Council will continue to host monthly craft and farmers' markets in West Row, on the second and third Fridays of every month, respectively.

Veronica Copeland, the council's cabinet member for consumer and environmental service, said: "This is exciting news for shoppers in Darlington town centre.

"Hopefully, the Thursday market will attract new traders as well as familiar faces.

"The markets are an important part of Darlington and the new-look town centre means they can operate more frequently, giving even more choice to shoppers."

Anyone interested in having a stall at the market is asked to call 01325-388691.