BARNSLEY town centre has been awarded Purple Flag recognition for a seventh straight year in recognition of its night-time economy.

Purple Flag is a national accreditation, similar to the blue and green flags awarded to beaches and parks, which aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 5pm to 5am.

The council say that the award highlights Barnsley’s blend of entertainment, dining, and culture, all while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of residents and visitors in the evening and night-time economy.

Coun Robin Franklin, cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture, said: “It’s fantastic news that Barnsley town centre has secured Purple Flag accreditation for a seventh successive year.( “This continued recognition is a testament to the hard work of our staff and partners in the public and private sector, who work together fabulously to make the town centre’s evening and night-time economy a success.

“My thanks go to everyone involved in this magnificent achievement, including the Purple Flag partnership and the Barnsley Town Board for its oversight of the Town Centre Plan and ensuring that the evening and night-time economy is included in the next phase of regeneration through the Pride in Place programme.

“We’ll continue to build on this success, with our new Destination Management Plan laying out our ambitions to put Barnsley firmly on the map as a great place for people to visit, stay and enjoy, while supporting local jobs and businesses.

“By providing a safe, welcoming and vibrant environment for residents and visitors, we’re making Barnsley a place which offers something for everyone to enjoy, day or night.”