A FURTHER extension has been given for the completion of work on The Buttercross in Ludlow.

The historic former butter market is to be turned into a historic interpretive and education centre.

It will also provide a new home for Ludlow Museum.

The scheme had been under threat because Shropshire Council had insisted that more than £100,000 available more than three years ago under the Market Towns Regeneration Fund had to be spent by the end of June.

But Ludlow Town Council said that it would be impossible to complete the work in that time and applied for an extension.

Now they have been told that the deadline has been extended to the end of March next year (2015).

The delay has been attributed to a number of reasons including the listed building status of The Buttercross that means that all work has to be approved by English Heritage.

“It is a huge relief that this extension has been allowed and I am confident that the work will now be completed in time,” said Vivienne Parry, a member of both Ludlow Town Council and Shropshire Council.