A GROUP of independent traders have set up their own delivery services to keep their market alive.

Traders from the Durham market have continued to operate in a different form after the market hall was closed due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Colin Wilkes said: “We’ve shut our market hall for safety, staffing and security purposes but we have five traders carrying on making deliveries.

“As independent traders we need to try and maintain a presence for those self-isolating or who want to avoid the supermarket crowds.’’

The five traders of the Durham market offering deliveries are:

Andersons of Durham – suppliers of men’s and women’s footwear. Shoppers can still purchase via the phone or online at andersonsofdurham.com. Card payments are taken over the phone. They can be contact on 0191-3861110.

Bear Bottom – suppliers of children’s toys, collectables, and gifts. Shoppers can still purchase online via their website bearbottom.co.uk or their facebook page facebook.com/BearBottomGifts/.

Hodgson Fish is offering a £50 Home Delivery Deal, which includes four salmon portions, four cod portions, four hake portions, one bag of king prawns, and four large sea bass fillets. delivery areas across the North East of England. They can be contacted on 01429-273169 card payment by phone accepted.

Teesdale Game and Poultry is supplying poultry, game, cheese and eggs they can be contacted on 07801-280665.

William Peat Butchers is offering fresh meat products from their Barnard Castle base and deliver to the Durham area. Payments can be made by card over the phone or by cash on delivery. They can be contacted on 01833-638123.

The market has also frozen its rent for the traders for the duration of the lockdown. Most of the traders qualify for the governments £10,000 grant which is hoped to give them more security.

Mr Wilkes added “The face of retail will be considerably different, it’s the unknown that brings change. It will be an interesting scenario when we return to normal.

“It’s shown how vital independent traders are to people. People will now recognise that independents have gone over and above, and people should not forget that they are vital to the community. Sometimes they suffer due to the big supermarkets, so I encourage customers to ring an independent trader and see if they do deliveries.

“We intend to take the market to you, and we will do our very best to tailor it to your liking.”

Mr Wilkes wants to see this as a call to arms for people to help independent traders who are facing the unknown.

Durham County Councillor for Nevilles Cross Amanda Hopgood said: “I think that it’s a great thing people can access these traders and that it is done safely. It is great that we can rely on them and hopefully we continue to support them on the other side.

“I support deliveries as long as they adhere to social distancing if so long may it continue because there are people out there who don’t have people to rely on for shopping so the deliveries are a life saver.”

Fellow councillor Liz Brown said: “These are very difficult times for everybody and we are delighted that so many local businesses are helping those who are shielding and isolating themselves. Obviously the fewer people that have to go out shopping the less chance there is of people becoming infected and infecting others.”