FROM drab and dingy to bright and vibrant — Okehampton traders are hoping the struggling market will be buzzing once again when the Market Hall gets a new look.

A refurbishment is due to take place after Easter and a promotional campaign to attract more traders and shoppers will follow.

The hall will be closed for approximately one month from April 25 but stall holders will temporarily trade from the former Youngs Motorcyclists store in School Way while the work is taking place.

Thanks to grants from Leader II and the Rural Development Association Okehampton Town Council is able to put its £20,000 plan into action.

A complete redecoration is in the pipeline and there will be awnings, wash basins, a new ceiling with banners hanging from it and new lighting.

The new look has been designed by Diane Bailey of Meridian Design in Okehampton.

With the hygiene facilities in place people can also sell food from the premises.

Chairman of the working group which has been in charge of the project Cllr Stan Stormont said the hall was going to look completely different.

'We have great hopes for the Market Hall,' he said. 'We want more stallholders and a bigger range of items for sale.

'It will be like an outdoor market but inside.'

He said local builders were being invited to tender for the work and it was due to start the day after Easter Monday.

Florist Jean Lovelock, who has been a stallholder for eight years, said the council was trying very hard to improve trade in the Market Hall.

A total of £9,000 was contributed towards the scheme by the council.

'I think it is a lovely idea to refurbish the hall — it is going to be much better,' she said.

'At the moment it is very drab and once the work is done I believe it will be a much more pleasant environment to work in and shop in.'

Mrs Lovelock said the market used to be 'buzzing' especially on a Saturday but in the last six months trade had been terrible.

She put this down to the lack of parking facilities for both cars and coaches during the construction of Waitrose.

'I have kept going because I have my regulars and I like the people here but there have been many times when I considered packing up.

'I really hope things pick up because the council is making such an effort.'

Book stall holder David Luckhurst said the success of the market would depend on advertising.

'It will only work if people know we are here,' he said. 'There needs to be signposting in the town to let people know the market exists.'