Figures for the door counters at Widnes Market look set reach the 2.5 million visits by the end of March, another milestone in the rejuvenation of the market which had seen a flattening of visitor numbers in previous years. This year has seen on average over 48,000 visits per week, bucking the national trend. That is more people than watch Manchester City each week or four times the capacity of the Stobart Stadium, Stobart every week. This equates to the population of Stirling or almost twice that of Bangor! The projected figures re-enforce the fact that the market plays an important part in the local community, both for value and as an important place to meet.

Halton Borough Council's Executive Board Member for Markets, Cllr Tom McInerney, said: "The key to Widnes Market's continuing success is its friendly and helpful traders and the quality goods and services that they offer. "It's a valuable community asset , and these figures show that people appreciate it."

Changes in stall ownership and new stalls opened in the past 12 months as well as an increase in the number of customer driven promotions such as the free activities at Widnes on Sea and the fantastic free Car Give Away at Christmas have all reminded local and regional customers that the market offers value for money.

While numbers look to be on the up, trade is still difficult where the market competes with the local supermarket and high street traders where people feel they can get better value. Widnes market does have advantages over both. Individual services such as butchers who can prepare locally sourced meat for you ready to use rather than buying pre packed meat where you have no-one to ask for advice is one advantage over the supermarket.

Another advantage was proven last year when the market was found to provide local fresh produce at a cheaper price than the listed local supermarkets when compared to the online comparison site mysupermarket.com. This was especially true for fresh fruit and vegetables, where you can buy the amount you need or fish from Fleetwood, provided by Marina Quay fisheries, where fish can be prepared as you like it, even with tips from the fishmonger on how to cook it.

Knowledgeable stall holders selling a range of items from phone repairs to window blinds, allows Widnes Market to provide the individual service and quality you look for with a price that may surprise you.