CHESTER'S indoor market has been revealed as a finalist in a competition to find Britain’s Favourite Market.

Organisers the National Association of British Market Authorities has announced the top 10 markets for the 2020 competition following public votes.

Chester has made the list for the second year, moving into the next mystery shopper stage. The overall winner will be announced in January.

It’s been another record-breaking year for the market with data produced by Springboard showing the yearly footfall increasing 20.9 per cent over the past 12 months, representing over a million visitors this year.

This follows a boom year in 2018 when footfall increased by 17.4 per cent. These figures are said to represent huge increases when compared to a fall of 2.4 per cent nationally for market footfall.

Cllr Richard Beacham, Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Growth said: “I’m sure all of the market customers will join me in wishing the market good luck in the final round of the competition.

“The market team has been working hard to grow Chester Indoor Market ahead of construction of the new market in the Northgate Development, which begins next year.

“As the million visitors to Chester Market this year will testify, the council’s investment in the current offer has helped create a place for new and existing businesses to thrive. Over the past year we’ve welcomed more traders, bringing the current market up to full capacity, and now we have a waiting list of traders wanting to join the market.

“In partnership with the traders and customers, the market team really have made Chester Market the place to be and whatever happens in the competition, we already know we have the best market in the country."