Knowsley MBC has made an offer to buy Kirkby town centre in what it describes as a ‘radical move'.

The council made the move after repeated delays to regeneration schemes by the current owners – St Modwen – and other private sector organisations.

Council leader, Cllr Graham Morgan, said: ‘This council has been calling on the private sector to regenerate Kirkby town centre for a long time, but enough is enough.

‘We have worked tirelessly to encourage and support the private sector to deliver on their plans for Kirkby.

'However, despite our best efforts, the redevelopment of the town centre still hasn't happened and it's quite clear that we need to find a different model.

‘It would come with significant risks and challenges but we have concluded that the best chance we have to get this scheme completed would be to buy St Modwen's assets and deliver the rest of the improvements promised by them.'