A £1.3M PLAN to renovate the Covered Market's roof has been approved by senior councillors.

It will be the next stage of work on the Grade II listed building – and will be the fourth of seven stages to be completed. The first stage began in 2012.

By the time it is finished, it is hoped the roof will last for up to 80 years.

Although it was not the cheapest contractor, the council has picked Croft Building and Conservation. The firm has already completed the previous three stages of work on the market.

The city council's executive board heard on Tuesday evening that although Croft Building and Conservation's quote for the fourth stage was considerably more than its rivals, it had shown previously that it could do work demanded to a high standard.

Two unnamed firms which had applied to the council to do work had not shown enough experience in their application, the authority said.

The council hopes to spend a further £1.3m on internal improvements at the market, but the way that will be spent will be decided by councillors later.

Last week, the executive board member for culture and city centre, Mary Clarkson, said: "The council is the custodian of the almost 250-year-old market.

"We take that responsibility seriously and we are investing to refurbish the internal space and ensure the roof will last for generations."

The council has conceded the roof is currently in a ‘poor state of repair and vulnerable to leaks and occasional flooding during heavy rainfall’.