Copeland Council is appealing for ideas on what the future of Whitehaven's town centre market could look like after it was placed under review.

It was revealed in June that the market would not be restarting as coronavirus restrictions were relaxed, with Copeland Council instead pledging to undertake a review of the market to determine its future and make it more sustainable.

Now the council has launched an online survey to canvas public opinion on what that future could look like to breathe new life into the traditional market.

Mike Starkie, the council's elected mayor, said the survey had seen significant interest.

"We are trying to engage with people about the types of things that they would like to see and the way we should progress it," he said.

"We are getting quite a lot of positive engagement already and we're going to take onboard all of the ideas that come in and then move forward.

"It will also give us the opportunity to explain why we maybe can't do some things that are suggested.

"I think out of this will come some really good, progressive ideas that keep the market, albeit in a different way."

The survey includes questions on what types of stalls or attractions would bring people to the town centre, whether larger, themed markets run monthly or quarterly would appeal more, theme ideas, the market's location and whether visitors would then go to other shops and food outlets nearby.

The decision to keep the market suspended despite lockdown restrictions easing was made by the council's executive.

It was revealed at that meeting that the net cost of running the twice-weekly market in its current format is £41,000 a year and in order for it to break even 47 new stalls, each paying the present £18 charge, would be needed.

Between four and six regular traders were said to have attended each market day before the suspension in March.

The market was relaunched in its current form in September 2016 and the move initially paid off but that interest has since declined.

The survey, which closes at midnight on Sunday, August 30, can be completed at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PVYQYSX

A hard copy can also be obtained by emailing info@copeland.gov.uk and returned to Andrew Clarke at Copeland Borough Council, Market Hall, Market Place, Whitehaven CA28 7JG.