Last traders plea for customers to stay

The only two traders left in Stourbridge market are urging customers not to desert their businesses amid unfounded rumours of closure.

Norma's Cosmetics and the Dutch Oven bakery are now the only two businesses left in the almost empty Spencers Market, which once boasted up to 34 different traders.

The market has struggled since closure of the neighbouring Morrisons Supermarket and the announcement of revamp plans by leaseholders Modus.

Tesco is due to take over the market and the empty supermarket and most traders have already moved out.

Owner of Norma's Cosmetics, Norma Griffiths said she had been waiting to move to the disused Caffe Chique unit in the Crown Centre for months.

She said her life had been "on hold" while the lease on the new shop was signed.

She said: "We have been waiting since January. We were told this week we should be moving very shortly. People keep coming and asking us when we'll be moving.

"Our regulars have been absolutely fantastic. That's the only thing that's kept us open."

Mrs Griffiths has run her own shop in the market for 27 years.

The 58-year-old said that Modus had now told her there were no problems with her moving to the new Crown Centre premises.

But there are still legal issues to be ironed out by solicitors working on behalf of centre owner Dudley Council and Mrs Griffiths.

Diane Flower, who manages the Dutch Oven bakery, said a lot of customers had told her they thought the shop was closing. She said the rumours had affected trade with takings down by half.

She added: "There's so many rumours flying around it's unbelieveable."

Signs have also been put up at the market entrance to scotch rumours of it closing down.

Dudley Council spokesman Phil Parker said that the legal processes surrounding the move by Norma's Cosmetics were currently being completed.