Rayleigh's ancient market, which back to the 12th century and is the second oldest in the country (after Colchester), had been experiencing dwindling trade when the town council decided to take it over and move it to its new location in the heart of the town outside Boots. 

Shoppers are now returning to the market in their droves to buy cakes, bread, fruit and veg and are boosting high street trade in the process. The market moved just before Christmas and has been so successful there is now a waiting list of 50 traders.

Trevor Day, 49, who has a stall selling household goods, has been one of the driving forces behind getting the market set up. He said: “I have been working on market stalls for 28 years. It has declined, but the idea of this maket being here is to regenerate the whole area. Everybody from every shop, even the banks, have said Wednesdays are their busiest day now.”

Rayleigh town councillor Dave Sperring said: “The footfall has been better than we could have hoped. I have had nothing but positive responses.”

The market is open every Wednesday from 8am until 2pm.