Aylsham market traders say "use it or lose it"

Aylsham hosts market days on Friday and Monday, with a variety of stalls offering everything from food to scooters.

However there are fears that running a market stall is a "dying trade" and that no one is stepping forward from the younger generation to take them on.

However some traders are feeling more positive and think markets still have a place in shoppers' hearts.

Charlie Gould, age 56, who runs a cheese and pie van, said: "The days of people going out to market appear to me to be slowly coming to an end.

 "Even market traders know it, we can see it is a dying trade. 

"We need to draw more young people in.

Charlie Gould (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest) "I have been around markets since I was five. 

"There was a resurgence after Covid, a lot of people took it up after that I think." 

Aylsham market place (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest) Many of the traders are concerned that the younger generation are not taking up the trade. 

Mr Gould said: "It's very rare to have young traders, you tend to find them if they have taken on a family business. 

"It's hard work and a lot of young people do not seem to want to do it. 

"It's not something millennials and Gen Z don't want to do.   

"A bit more help from the councils would be nice too."

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Mark Smith, 48 and who works for Freedom Mobility, said: "They are all declining nowadays, I think a lot of people out there miss a trick on bringing people to the market.

"I think they are beneficial, markets are the way forward. People can't always afford a shop, but they can afford a gazebo. 

"I'm ex-military, I've been doing this for about four years.

"The problem is people won't come if it's the same stuff every time. 

Mark Smith who sells mobility scooters at the market for a bigger company (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest)

"The councils need to do more, often the senior market traders are left to sort everything out." 

Zara Crowe, who runs Earthglade with her partner David, said: "We need to keep markets alive, we need people to use them. 

David and Zara Crowe (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest)"We are determined to keep it going. 

"If you don't use them, you lose them and all we will have is supermarkets.

"Even though this isn't a big money maker for any of us here, it's a massive part of the community. 

"For a lot of people it's a social life." 

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Others were more optimistic about the future of the markets, expressing the need to support each other and bring younger people into the trade. 

Mark Wye-Harris said: "Changes in the season always affect things.

Experienced market trader, Mark Wye-Harris (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest) "It is all about supporting each other and bringing up the next generation. 

"It is a hard game, especially when you are young. 

"I would like to bring more young people into the market trade.

"It's very easy to be downbeat but you have to have to be balanced about it." 

Andrew, owner of Fat Buddha Dumplings, said: "I feel confident. October and November things always get quieter, but that's what you pay for the summer days."

Andrew, owner of Fat Buddha Dumplings (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest)