Work has finally begun to make the listed Shambles market hall in Devizes waterproof and secure.

A meeting of Devizes Area Board heard last October that £380,000 had been set aside for essential work on the roof of the 19th century building.

Recent budget cuts have reduced this to £300,000 but any work to make the building more structurally sound was welcomed by the local watchdog, the Trust for Devizes.

Chairman Ted East said: “We are just happy that work is being done to maintain the fabric of the building. In these times of budgetary restraint we must be grateful for anything we can get.

“Larger schemes to refurbish the building can be revisited later.”

The former Kennet District Council, which disappeared on the creation of Wiltshire Council in April 2009, had set aside £700,000 for a complete renovation of the Shambles, including new glass entrance lobbies at both ends of the building.

On Monday Wiltshire Council released a statement to say that work to refurbish the roof of the Shambles has now started and is expected to last three months.

The statement said: “The council, which owns the hall, has commissioned contractors to carry out major works that are needed to replace the roof coverings.

“There will be a temporary ceiling put in place to ensure that trading within the market hall can continue.”

However, the Old Curiosity Markets on Sunday and Monday, May 22 and 23, have had to be cancelled, as has the antiques market on Tuesday May 24.

Cabinet member Dick Tonge said: “The Shambles market hall is a very important and historic building in Devizes which is well used and loved by local people.”

He said disruption during the work would be kept to a minimum.