Market users are being asked to attend engagement sessions to give input into what they would like to see happen with Kendal's soon-to-be refurbished indoor market.

Work to change the town's historic indoor market hall is set to start in December this year.

Engagement sessions will be held at the market from 10am to 5.30pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week, with other sessions planned in November.

Council staff will be at a stall in the market to explain the planned works and gather comments and suggestions.

Kendal Indoor Market received £840,126 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which is aimed at 'revitalising the historic market hall to provide a regenerated community and commercial space for Kendal fit for the 21st century.'

With an end date of March, the market hall will close for around four months from December for works including perimeter wall repairs, roof repairs, and an internal fit-out and redecoration of the market.

The aim is for these 'enabling works' to be a foundation for further improvements if funding can be secured.

Discussions have taken place with traders to explore their options while the market hall is closed, and support packages have been made available to traders to support them through the project and temporary market closure.

The temporary closure includes the busy Christmas trading period, which is 'unavoidable' due to project timeframes to ensure the market hall is reopened for the busier trading months through the spring and summer.

Councillor Jonathan Brook, leader of Westmorland and Furness Council and cabinet member for the economy, said: "We have a fantastic opportunity here to inject new life into the indoor market which, along with the thriving outdoor market, will boost the vitality and sustainability of Kendal town centre.

"Work is underway to finalise the details of the improvements and we are keen that our market users let us know what they would like to see in the market in terms of what is on offer, design, layout, and facilities.

"We are also keen to hear from interested businesses and start-ups that might consider the indoor market as a future home for their trading.

"Our vision is for these improvements not to be the end of the story but the catalyst for future improvements.

"So even if we cannot accommodate everything now, views gathered at the engagement sessions will inform potential future work."