I FULLY agree with the comments of Doug Porthouse of Ferryhill (HAS, Oct 26).

Similarly myself and my husband are regular visitors to both Durham and Darlington, visiting both markets as we live in Sedgefield and both locations are easily accessible.

I have become very disappointed to see that some of the long-standing stallholders in Darlington are disappearing, e.g. butchers, an excellent card shop and more selling various items of food and household goods.

They are being replaced by stalls selling items which I don’t go to the market for.

Durham market continues to flourish because they consistently sell a wide range of popular goods, of excellent quality and with a friendly service.

I was also upset to see that there are numerous empty shops in Skinnergate, and with the loss of Marks & Spencer and British Home Stores and the sad demise of the market, I don’t think I will be shopping in Darlington much longer now unless things improve.

Darlington Council should try to remedy the situation before it is too late and the town centre becomes a run down ghost town.

Carol Midgley, Sedgefield