'Support us please!' Struggling Black Country traders call for help

It comes as the managers said that despite investment in Cradley Heath market, there was 'not enough footfall' coming in for traders.

Action is being taken improve visitor numbers but owner Oyster Properties admits it doesn't know 'what this year will bring'.

Back in November 2014, London based investment firm Oyster Properties bought the market for £450,000, where it was originally priced at £600,000.

With six traders quitting before Christmas, it now leaves only 16 stalls in the market hall, which can have a capacity for up to 40.

Linked to the market hall are 24 shop units, which are considered to be doing well.

Stallholders are now pleading for support in their bid to see the market return to its former glory.

Market manager Tracy Norton said: I've been manager here for around a year and in that time Oyster have pumped nearly £50,000 into the market alone, so that shows you they themselves are doing everything they can to help us grow and increase our businesses.

"We are just not getting enough footfall through the doors. Whether it's a sign of the times and people are shopping differently, I just don't know.

"When I started there were only five working stalls, and two out of the 19 shops were filled.

"But today, the hall is over half full and only three out of 19 shops are empty.

"It really isn't for the want of trying. We urge the people of Cradley Heath to get involved with keeping the market hall running. We advertise everywhere, but we just can't seem to get increasing numbers coming through the hall."

Libby Rollason, of Halesowen, manages Libby's Crafty Corner. She said: "I couldn't tell you why people have stopped coming in, it's a great shame. I have less than a hundred customers a week, with other stalls having even less than that.

"We're doing everything we can to advertise ourselves - Facebook, Twitter, flyers, posters and other sorts of social media. Every stallholder wants to continue their business here and we urge customers and local business and companies to come down and have a look at the markets."

A spokesman for Oyster Properties said the market had struggled since the opening of the Tesco superstore in 2013.

He said: "It is very difficult to get any High Street and market place back to what it was once a huge store like Tesco opens next door.

"We do not know what this year will bring. The market hall does remain unviable. We are looking all options possible, reductions in business rates, weekend events to promote the market, but we are fighting an uphill battle."