150 new jobs to be created at Asian bazaar in Nelson?

And it could see as many as 150 new jobs created as the first Asian bazaar in Lancashire opens its doors.

Around 50 stalls selling goods ranging from clothes to CDs, food to footwear and other items will go on sale in the former Poundstretcher store in Leeds Road.

The bazaar will be open three days each week - Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays.

The men behind the project are market stallholders Abrar Khan and Ibrar Hussain, who hope to attract traders from a wide area to the town - and shoppers from Pendle and beyond.

If everything goes to plan, the bazaar will open on Friday.

The bazaar operators have not required planning permission to change the use of the building as its previous use was as a retail store.

Mr Hussain said some stallholders already had existing stalls on the open market in Nelson, while others were new to the town.

“We are confident this venture will be a success. Each stall will employ up to four people so it will bring a significant job boost to the town,” he said.

Pendle Council town centres officer Hanna Latty said: “We really welcome this exciting addition to the town centre. We are really pleased it is in close proximity to the Admiral’s Market. We wish the venture all the very best.”