Water bargain! Wednesfield's floating market is a hit

Seven narrowboats docked alongside the Nickelodeon pub on Saturday to throw open their drifting stores for a weekend of shopping with a difference.

The floating shops sold a range of goods including plants, seeds, jewellery and arts and crafts. Food was also served, with bacon butties and cakes proving particularly popular with punters.

It is the second successive year the market has took place on the stretch of the Wyrley & Essington canal in Wednesfield, although this year's event was the first 'official' market.

Boaters were invited to attend the event by Councillor Phil Bateman, who represents Wednesfield North, and had been impressed with the market in 2014.

Trader Stuart Megson, who moored on his BCM workboat Sparks, said: "Last year was a bit of a spontaneous affair. It was more of a 'pop-up' market where people just showed up on the weekend and traded.

"Councillor Bateman obviously liked what he saw and arranged for us to come back this year in more of an official capacity.

"It was a cracking weekend and hopefully we'll be back again next year."

Mr Megson, aged 43, is originally from Wednesfield but now spends his days navigating the waterways of Great Britain in his narrowboat accompanied by his partner, Lindsay Andrews, also 43.

"We're what you might call roving canal traders," he added. "We tend to get a great reception wherever we go. I think people like it because we bring a bit of vibrancy and colour to the canal."

Councillor Bateman presented the first narrowboat that docked with a copy of Ray Fellows book Wednesfield Our Village.

He said it was 'fantastic' to meet visitors from the town and further afield, on what was a 'great day in Wednesfield'.

Other traders at the market included Sandra Willis, who did a roaring trade with her speciality products for dogs.