Wolverhampton Wholesale Market buzzes as city sleeps

They have to be up well before the crack of dawn to set up their stalls at the site off Hickman Avenue before the first customers start arriving at 2am.

For five hours the market is a hive of activity and noise, before everything is packed away ready for the following day.

And with Christmas just round the corner, stall holders at the market are experiencing their busiest time of the year.

Demand for Christmas dinner favourites such as sprouts, carrots, parsnips and potatoes has been at an all time high.

There has been a four-fold increase in footfall at the market this month, according to some traders.

Nick Collins, aged 44, owner of Bentley's, said December was his busiest time of the year.

Mr Collins, who lives in Lapley, Staffordshire, said: "It's a bit crazy at the moment.

"We've seen a four-fold increase in business compared to what we are used to.

"Whatever people usually eat for their Christmas dinner, we sell a lot of, including parsnips, potatoes, carrots and sprouts."

Mr Collins buys from growers and sells on to fellow market stallholders and food retailers.

He opened his fruit and vegetable business in 1999.

Fellow trader Nitin Trehan, director of Frais Ltd, is experiencing his first Christmas period at the wholesale market. He founded his business, which specialises in exotic and Asian fruit and vegetables, under 12 months ago.

The 34-year-old from Nottingham said: "It has been very busy leading up to Christmas. It started getting busy at the start of December.

"Our customers come from as far as Birmingham to pick up their orders. We mainly sell to restaurants and fast food businesses."

Mr Trehan said he was selling a lot of cauliflower and broccoli - popular additions to a Christmas dinner plate.

He also supplies to Birmingham Wholesale Market.

He added: "Over Christmas time we do tend to stock more produce. We've got cauliflower and broccoli in.

"Throughout December I don't really get a day off. I work seven days a week, even on Sundays."

Loyal customer Alfie Young usually arrives at the market every day at around 4am to pick up his produce. He runs a mobile fruit and vegetable business which operates in the Staffordshire area.

The 63-year-old from Little Haywood in Staffordshire said: "I'm here to buy all the stuff that people want to eat around the Christmas period.

"As long as it's good stuff it will sell. Carrots, parsnips and even salad are good sellers."

Mr Young said he had been using the wholesale market for the past 30 years but said it used to be a lot busier.

"When I first started coming here there were queues out the door," he said. "People came at 2am and then it was empty by 6am.

"It used to be packed but now the market is only running at a third of its full capacity.

"It's important for wholesale markets like this one to exist. If not then the supermarkets will have the run of things."

The wholesale market is open from Monday to Saturday from 2-7am.