HERITAGE experts have been asked to assess whether Darwen's Victorian market hall can have a lottery-funded facelift.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's regeneration boss, Phil Riley, told the full council forum meeting that he had been in talks with Heritage Lottery Fund staff to see if the building would qualify for cash.

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Cllr Riley said the plan was at a very early stage but that the council was interested in preserving the hall and highlighting its heritage features.

He said: "The first stage was for the Heritage Lottery to have a look at the building to see if they could recognise that it is an attraction they would be willing to fund and that's ongoing.

"It's a very attractive building and I think we do need to make sure it is upgraded at some point.

"It has so many great features about it and we want to make sure these stand out so I hope that they come back to us with a positive answer."

The market hall in Croft Street, which is open six days a week, opened in 1871 and is treasured by Darwen residents as a beacon of the town's Victorian heritage.

Cllr Paul Browne, who represents Sudell ward, said he would like to see the wooden framed windows reinstated to recapture its historic look.

He said: "They're putting PVC windows everywhere in Darwen and I think it would look much better if they put back in the proper wood windows. It would look absolutely fantastic.

"It should really be like that right through the town to bring it back to its former self."

Marsh House councillor John Roberts was also interested in making sure the building kept its Victorian ambience.

He said: "The market is very important to me as chairman of the town centre partnership board because it's a thing that brings people to Darwen and any funding we can get in will be great.

"I understand there is a crack in the floor that needs to be fixed and we need to make sure the building maintains its Victorian character and protect it.

"I would support any funding we can get to preserve the building."

According to the Heritage Lottery website, all applications are assessed by experienced casework officers.

The website said: "They look at whether the project is relevant to heritage in the UK and the difference it will make. Casework officers also take into account the need or opportunity, how capable the organisation is of carrying out the project, how well planned it is, whether there will be longer-term benefits, and the overall value for money."

Assessment can take between eight weeks for smaller grant requests and several months for larger amounts.