SHOPPERS are being urged to use a town market or risk losing it.

Ferryhill Town Council is encouraging people from the town and surrounding area to visit its weekly market on Fridays.

The historic market dates back to at least the end of the First World War but as with many small town centres and markets across the country it faces competition from out of town supermarkets and malls.

Executive officer Jamie Corrigan said the council works hard to boost the market but more customers are needed to sustain it.

The main Friday market regularly attracts 15 stall holders but Mr Corrigan hopes to get closer to the 25 stalls that once filled the market place.

He said: "This week’s market is busy because the weather is good but it needs to grow, people need to use it or lose it.

"A vibrant, prosperous town centre with traders and a market is so important to this community.

"Car ownership here is very low, its less than 50 percent of households, and public transport is not cheap so it would be a huge loss to people to lose traders from their doorstep."

Full story and picture in The Northern Echo.