Stratford market traders: 'It's good to be back'

Samantha Scott is "grateful and thankful" for the market's return

Traders at an east London market saved from closure have expressed their relief at being able to reopen.

Stratford's Market Village was forced to close in January after the company that ran the site went into administration.

Newham Council has now agreed to take on a 15-year lease for the site thanks to a £700,000 grant from the mayor of London's Good Growth Fund.

The market, which has about 60 traders, reopened last Friday.

Caribbean takeaway owner Samantha Scott said she was "grateful and thankful" to be able to reopen.

"It's good to be back - it feels like we were taken away from our home," she said.

As part of the agreement, the council will be able to operate the market itself or assign the lease to another market operator.

The market has been serving customers out of Stratford Centre since 1974.

Abdul Qadir, who has run a phone shop in the market for 24 years, said: "The feeling is good.

"I'm soon going to be out of debt, I can pay my staff and my livelihood is going to be good."

He added: "We feel like [the closure] was a bad dream."

Abdul Qadir says the market's return will allow him to pay staff

Angela Akbas, who has run the Centre Cafe for more than 20 years, said the market acts as a community hub for many people.

"This would have been a big loss to the community," she said.

"This market brings entrepreneurship, diversity, it's multicultural and caters for everybody's needs."

Angela Akbas says the market is a social hub for the community

"We get people that come in with no families and nobody to talk to. They come in and have a chat with me and it makes them feel good," she added.

The sentiment is echoed by some of Ms Akbas's customers.

Maureen told BBC London she was "very glad" the market had reopened and gave Ms Akbas "a cuddle" when the cafe returned to business.

"This shopping centre is vital because these are small independent businesses," adds Michelle, another market customer.

"They depend on locals to support them."