Whitehaven Market will be relaunched next week with 30 new stalls, a continental market and street entertainment.

The event – held from Thursday to Sunday – will include circus entertainer, Joseph D’Amour Bouffon, with music from Ragtime Rascals and Whitehaven Brass Band.

An official launch will take place next Saturday, October 1, at 10.50am when the town crier, Rob Romano, will walk from the top of King Street to the Market Place before shouting the Whitehaven Market Charter from 1672.

This will be followed by speeches from Whitehaven town mayor, Raymond Gill, and Copeland Mayor, Mike Starkie, followed by a ribbon cutting.

Whitehaven Town Council has granted nearly £66,000 to redevelop the market which will now include a new back-to-back layout to help reinvigorate the market to appeal to locals and tourists.

Mr Starkie, said: “I am very pleased with the interest we have received from people who want to be part of the new revamped Whitehaven Market.

“This is an excellent collaboration between Copeland Council and Whitehaven Town Council. There are a wide variety of goods and produce on offer and I would appeal to all our residents to visit and experience for yourself the new market.’’

Previously, stall holders needed to bring and erect their own stalls, now branded stalls, in a range of sizes, will be available to ensure the market has “a clear identity and visual consistency’’.

The aim is to provide visitors and shoppers with a “quality market product with a professional image’’.

Anyone interested in taking a stall should ring 01946 593014 or email whitehavenmarket@copeland.gov.uk