Brownhills Market reopens after six months

It's back - the bigger and better Brownhills Market reopened today after standing empty for more than six months.

Almost 100 delighted traders started setting up their stalls from 5am ready to greet the first customers and vowed: "We will bring the market back to its former glory." Private company LSD Promotions has now taken over the market, increasing the number of stalls on offer at the Silver Street site.

Heavy rain did not dampen the spirits of shoppers who flooded back to the market to check out the bargains on offer. Traders said they had also jumped at the chance to bag a pitch at the relaunched market.

Mohammed Sajid was the last man standing with his computer stall when the market closed in March.

The 36-year-old, of Birmingham, said: "When I heard it was coming back, I was very keen to return. There are a lot more traders here, and the rent is cheaper."

To help celebrate the relaunch, meat supplier Willow Farm was offering 200 turkeys every hour at £2 each from 10am to 2pm.

Tony Mallett, aged 51, from Stourbridge, who helps sell from Willow Farm's van said: "We want to help bring the market back to its former glory.

"The people of Brownhills need this market. It has always been a good food market in the past and can still be one in the future."

Bosses at LSD Promotions said they were pleased with the turnout. Director Dermot McGillicuddy said: "We honestly believe this market has got a great future and this time it is back to stay."

The market, which had been running for more than 40 years, closed in July 2009 after its previous operators failed to negotiate a new lease with Walsall Council.

Last September, the market was taken over by the council, which ran it on Tuesdays and Saturdays. But the Tuesday market was scrapped at the start of the year due to falling numbers.