AROUND 625,000 people have visited the £11 million Warrington Market since it opened.

The site opened at Time Square in the town centre in July last year.

Cllr Tom Jennings, the council’s cabinet member for economic development and innovation, says the market has already proven to be an essential part of Warrington town centre’s recovery and that he has been delighted to see so many people coming to enjoy the site and support businesses there.

“The very high quality and diverse selection of our traders, alongside the variety of food vendors in the Cookhouse, makes the market a destination in its own right,” he said.

“Whether you’re shopping for essentials, having lunch out, or going for a haircut – which many of us will have been grateful for coming out of lockdown earlier this year – there’s truly something for everyone at the market.

“I’m confident that the market and the wider Time Square development will continue to play an important part of our post-pandemic recovery.

“If you haven’t yet been, we’d love to show you what the market has to offer.”

Steve Park, the council’s director of growth, also set out some of the measures to keep people safe amid the coronavirus pandemic.

He said: “The market team and traders have been working incredibly hard throughout the pandemic to keep things as Covid-secure as possible.

“We have clear signage to encourage social distancing, have hand sanitiser in place and we make sure that anyone eating in with the Cookhouse uses the Test and Trace system.

“The vast majority of our customers coming to the market observe the rules and measures in place, which we’re very grateful for.

“Opening the market during the middle of the pandemic was always going to bring its challenges, but it has undoubtedly paid off as the number of visitors has proved.

“We have managed to provide an essential service to shoppers during the height of the pandemic and, now we are seeing more restrictions easing, it’s great to see more people shopping with our many quality traders, alongside our outstanding food vendors at the Cookhouse.”