A TOWN centre trade group has responded to concerns raised over a large event due to take place this summer.

Barrow Business Improvement District's Super Soapbox Challenge is due to return to the town centre this year.

It brought out more than 15,000 spectators when it ran last time in 2019 and is due to return on August 29.

By that time people are due to have enjoyed the removal of all restrictions on social distancing for more than two months.

Several concerns have been raised in the past of the event and how it run.

Responding to fears over safety, a Barrow BID spokesman said: "We are conforming to Government legislation and following their Roadmap to Recovery.

"We are working closely with the police and local authority to ensure the safety of participants and the general public.

"If Covid legislation changes then we will have to change or postpone the event."

Some concerns had also been brought up over the effect of the event on town centre trade as well as the cost of the event, which is financed by the group.

"We ran the 2019 event on a Saturday so that we could gauge the impact on all businesses, " the spokesman added.

"The 2021 event has moved to a Super Sunday meaning retail businesses can choose to open if they think it will benefit them or can close and join the fun.

"We expect each business to seize the opportunity themselves.

"The Super Soapbox Challenge is designed to be Barrow's Premier Annual Event. We wanted something that would be known as 'The Barrow Event' and would attract local people and visitors to the town. We set aside approx. £33,000 for the event and estimates from an independent review company suggested that the event brought in between £350,000 to £400,000 into the town centre."