RESIDENTS have been given a sneak peek at what the final phase of a £1.5million investment in their town hall will look like.

Accrington Town Hall will undergo a transformation this year which will see an all-new refurbished reception, function room and ceremony room.

The work will be a ‘silent refurbishment’, which means it will take place without disrupting the day-to-day running of the town hall.

The refurbishment will see an improvement to the areas at the hall often used to carry out wedding ceremonies at the town centre venue. The refurbishment will also increase capacity from 300 to 400 people.

Built in 1858, thousands of people have since visited the town hall, with hundreds of couples choosing the venue to exchange their vows or to celebrate doing so.

Kerry Smith, cultural services manager, said: “We are really excited about this refurbishment and what it will bring to, not only the town hall, but to Accrington and the community.

“This building lies at the centre of our town and while the shops and the streets around it have changed over the years; it’s the one thing that has stayed the same.”

Plans will be on show to the public at a wedding open event on Saturday from noon until 4pm to give them a chance to have a look at what is on offer.

This comes after a previous event was held on Tuesday night to display the plans to the public.

The multifunctional ballroom space features a fully sprung dancefloor, with the only other of its kind in the North West at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool.

Once work is complete the revamped ballroom will be suitable for a host of occasions such as: wedding receptions, school proms events, family parties, wakes, christenings, sportsman’s dinners and more.