MALDON’S only market has been given ‘security for the future’ after a council agreed to extend its lease by two years.

The market in Butt Lane, which moved from the White Horse car park 10 years ago, runs on a Thursday and Saturday.

The Thursday event was branded a “glorified car-boot sale” two years ago and Maldon District Council gave it 12 months to improve.

Last year both the Saturday market, which has just one stall, and the Thursday market were handed a yearlong lease.

After considering its future again the council’s central area planning committee has now agreed to extend the lease until August 2019.

Terry Frost, who runs the jewellery and watch stall, said the market traders were happy the lease had been agreed.

Mr Frost, who has had a stall since 1979, said: “It gives us security for the future. We are all getting older and in a few years’ time will look to retire – so this keeps us going until then.

“I’m not sure what the future holds but hopefully the market can keep going for as long as possible. A market is something a bit leftover from the past. But we are still offering that service to people. All the older people love it and a lot of younger people haven’t really experienced it.”

Mr Frost, who is the only stall holder on Saturday, said the market still offered unique options for shoppers.

There are stalls for fruit and veg, plants, food, ladies fashion, stationary, wool, garden ornaments and a new fish stall.

He added: “It is nice to tell the customers the market is still going and make them aware we have got some very good stalls.

“Sometimes it is a shame we are in a car park at the back of the high street and we don’t get visited by everyone who comes into the town.”