LEYLAND'S struggling market has been dealt another blow after a long-serving trader packed up and left.

Walter Sweeney, who has worked at the market for eight years, quit the site after giving up his battle to maintain his cooked meats stall.

He called it a day on Saturday, blaming rocketing rents and a dwindling number of regular customers. His departure has left a bitter taste among fellow stall-holders who had recently been given twice as much space for no extra cost.

Walter's business was inside one of the permanent market stall buildings, making it impossible for him to expand.

He said: "When they offered to double the amount of space to the traders on the other part of the market, I asked if it would be possible to have my rent reduced seeing as I wasn't getting any extra space.

"The council told me it was impossible.

"It's a great little market but I was having to survive on a dwindling number of customers."

He added: "We did have a regular band of customers and they are very sad that we are leaving. We are upset we have left, but we felt our hand was forced."

Stallholders, who last week appealed for locals to start using the market again despite the shabby surroundings, are disappointed to see Walter go.

Trader Joan Hudson said: "It is a shame but we will carry on because this is a great market and we are seeing more people coming back thanks to the Citizen."

The stall holders met with council leader Gina Lewis last week to discuss the market's future. Coun Lewis said: "The market most certainly has a future. It is at the centre of our plans to redevelop the area and hopefully it will thrive in the future."

Metrolands, who owned the market, is currently in receivership and unable to comment at the time of going to press.

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