Residents urged to support market before it closes

Michelle and her husband Gordon ran a fruit and veg stall at the market

Residents have been encouraged to show their support for a market which is to permanently close after 53 years.

Walton Market in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, is to be shut due to a "lack of footfall" and an average of just six stalls each week.

Some stallholders said they were "extremely" upset at the news.

The market will close in March after Frinton and Walton Town Council decided not renew its market licence with Tendring District Council.

The market was opened 53 years ago

The market has been running every Thursday for more than 50 years and residents have been encouraged to support its first full opening of the year on 18 January.

A campaign from the local community was launched to save the facility but the town council said that was no longer a viable option.

Michelle and Gordon Hinde run a fruit and veg stall at the market.

Mrs Hinde said: "It is extremely upsetting - not only are we losing our livelihoods, but it has been in our family for generations.

"It has just been the norm for us every week - we are part of the community."

She said the market brought a sense of community spirit to the small coastal town.

Ann Oxley, a Tendring district councillor for Walton, said she was hopeful the market could still be saved.

"I have been working behind the scenes, extremely hard, to get the market and get the lease going after March.

"It is looking hopeful."

The mayor said not enough shoppers used the market

But Paul Clifton, who has been the town mayor since May, said: "Going back a few years, the market used to be really busy.

"The council has tried various initiatives and schemes to get more market stalls there but nothing ever seems to work.

"It's a footfall factor and as cold-hearted as it sounds, if the footfall is not there, then the traders are not going to turn up and they are going to go somewhere else where they can make money."

He said there was an average of just six stallholders each week.