Traders last night gave a cautious welcome to a scheme that could help in the battle to preserve a North-East town's market heritage.

The future of the markets in Darlington has come under intense scrutiny in recent months after anxious stallholders said they had been hit hard by the on-going transformation of the town centre.

The work is part of the borough council's £6.5m pedestrian heart project, which is creating a huge traffic-free area.

The development has taken bus stops away from West Row, where passengers were once dropped off just yards from the indoor and outdoor markets.

Losses in trade of up to 70 per cent were reported as the majority of customers moved towards the Northgate end of the town centre.

But council chiefs moved stalls on to West Row this week - and said traders had enjoyed a profitable time as a result.

Various stalls were allowed to trade there for the first time, with the move being hailed as a positive step forward in the campaign to secure the markets' future.

However, Robin Blair, of the Darlington Market Traders' Association, said more work was needed.

"This has been a positive step and it's the way we have to move in the future. The markets are going to have to come to the people, rather than the people coming to the markets," he said.

"The only pity is that this wasn't done sooner because it gives the markets a new visual aspect. The people down at the Northgate end are being inquisitive enough to come down and have a look."

Mr Blair said markets on West Row were needed six days a week, some with specialist themes.

Traders will also continue their campaign for significant investment in the covered market, which has not had a major refurbishment since 1979.

But Stephen Harker, the council's cabinet member for consumer services, praised the latest move, saying: "The public certainly welcomed the market being on West Row and this was reflected in the level of trade enjoyed by the stallholders."

Marko Karadzic, who ran a football memorabilia stall on the market, said: "It's been very good to trade. I have seen some new faces around as well."

And Alex Blackham, who runs the diner in the indoor market and Ultimate Fillings in West Row said: "It looks wonderful and should be here all the time."