PEOPLE will be able to find out what is planned for Chester-le-Street's market at an exhibition tomorrow.

Work started in October to transform the market, in the Burns area of the town, as part of the district council's Civic Heart regeneration scheme. It is due to be completed in the spring.

The exhibition will be in the temporary market, in the Foundry Lane car park behind the Queen's Head pub, from 9.30am until 3.30pm.

Town centre manager Steve McCormick will be available to answer questions and people will be able to take leaflets showing an artist's impression of the Civic Heart, a public space that will include the refurbished market place.

The market is the second biggest open air market between Leeds and Edinburgh and is held on Tuesdays and Fridays. There is a car boot-style market on Saturdays.

The refurbishment planned by the council includes turning the Front Street end into a public space that will be known as Civic Heart and will feature a terracotta archway and coal seam seats. It will be used for events and celebrations.

The number of permanent stalls will be reduced from about 200 to 100 and there will be a further 50 self-erect stalls.

The scheme will allow some traders to switch from fixed stalls to the more flexible structures.

The market will be promoted by the council to encourage new traders and be used for French markets and farmers' and organic markets.