BARROW Market is booming with business after welcoming a number of new stall traders to the hall.

Three new businesses have flung open their doors since the market re-opened to the public in mid-June following its three-month closure.

Barrow Market administration assistant Jacqui Armstrong said people are beginning to realise the importance of shopping local.

She said: “We’ve seen a number of new faces in the market as well as our loyal customers which is great.

“I think people are starting to realise how important it is to shop local and keep the independent businesses going.”

Mrs Armstrong said stall holders went above and beyond during the lockdown period to serve customers.

“There were businesses going out of their way to do deliveries every day,” she said.

“One trader even went all the way to Walney just to drop off a zip.

“This is the personal touch you get from small independent traders which you just don’t get from the larger businesses. It makes the service so much more personal.”

Despite the recent loss of the Dyson stall and Sobia Fashion in the market, Mrs Armstrong said the market was still ‘on the up’.

“We have may lost a few businesses but we have gained some more,” she said.

“It’s a regular occurrence for traders to come and go in the market but we always have new starters coming in.

“I don’t want people to think Barrow Market has had its day - it’s got so many things going for it.

“Independent businesses are very much coming back and big names are going in the town.

“People are shopping more and more independent and it shows - they’re making a comeback.”

Among the new stall traders welcomed to the market are Shell’s Knitwear, which sells handmade knitted clothing, Fallen Eve, an Ulverston market trader which has recently arrived and sells handmade home decor and AJA Babies, which sells baby garments and accessories.

A number of traders have also expanded their business from a single to a double stall to cope with growing demand.