An indoor track where people can get in their steps at lunchtime in Blackburn is open for just a few more days.

The Exchange, in King William Street, has been hosting a community health promotion dubbed ‘Step into Spring’.

Weekdays in March have seen town centre workers and shoppers using a weatherproof track, marked out with lanes and laps, to 'get their steps in'.

Operations director, Caer Butler, said: ‘As part of the National Lottery funded programme of events to test out the uses of the building, we’re focussing on potential health and wellbeing opportunities of the hall."

Venue officials have discovered, courtesy of the archives at Blackburn Central Library, that the historic exchange building has been used for all kinds of purposes since it opened in 1865 as a cotton trading hub.

These have included championship snooker matches, trade shows with engineering inventions and exhibits festivals, balls, markets and grand concerts with 50-piece orchestras.

Caer is also chair of Blackburn Harriers and tried out the track beforehand to develop a fast lane and a slow lane for different ability levels.

Officials say a start and finish post has been added as well as a drinks station.

People using the track will also be provided with a warm space to eat their own brought lunch and the MeeMaws café will be open to buy warm drinks such as lattes, cappuccino etc. after your walk.

Caer added: ‘As far as we know this is the first time the space has been used for people to come and exercise and keep fit.

"At this time of year, there are all sorts of charitable causes encouraging people to get sponsored for clocking up the miles

"Pre-printed sponsorship forms will be made available and they will be there to help to record your distances each day.

People can raise money for a charity of their choice or to help raise money for The Exchange’s restoration charity, Re:Source.

"We’re delighted to welcome anyone to come in and use the track during our Step into Spring opening."

The building will be open for the walks weekdays between 12.30pm and 2pm until the end of the month.