YORK'S historic Newgate Market is to be re-named Shambles Market as part of its £1.6 million refurbishment.

The re-branding follows 18 months of consultation with shoppers, stallholders, local businesses and people who didn’t shop at the market, said City of York Council.

"Making the market easier to locate was one of the key findings of the consultation and the rebranding is designed to overcome this and encourage greater footfall between the two of the city’s most distinctive shopping areas," said a spokeswoman.

Cabinet member Cllr Sonja Crisp said the new name reflected the market’s close connection with the Shambles, and the medieval snickets linking the market and Shambles were being improved as part of the refurbishment.

“Everyone knows the name of this, Britain’s Prettiest Street – as voted by Google Street View users – and one of the UK’s most visited streets, so this name change makes it very easy to locate which will build footfall and makes absolute sense.”

The market will return to its home before the start of St Nicholas Fair in late November, following re-repaving, improvements to drainage, the installation of all-weather refurbished stalls and high-grade lighting.