A MOVE to the High Street has been welcomed by market traders in Rayleigh.

Many believe the switch would lead to more customers.

However, some stall owners warned the change could upset some regular customers accustomed to its location.

Glenn Mackett, 48, has taken his Southern Farms Butchery stall to the market for 25 years.

He said: “I think it would help. The way business has been going here in recent years, I think it’d be good to try to get some new customers in.

“People know where it is, but you’d get more passing trade if it was in the High Street.”

Joe Hayden, 71, hands out free teas and coffees in the market with his wife, Gill, and other helpers on behalf of local Christians.

He said: “On the one hand, it would bring in more people. We’re a bit out on a limb.

“But we are also established here. We have children from the FitzWimarc School coming here for hot chocolate every week. It works well because it is more secluded.”

Pete Holdsworth, who has run a pet food stall with his son, Perry, for 22 years, added: “I don’t really mind where the market goes, as long as it stays open.

“The people of Rayleigh want their market to stay open.”