THE Old Town farmers’ market is all set for change after the number of traders dwindled to just a handful in recent weeks.

As few as two stallholders have turned up for the Sunday market in Wood Street over the past month – and now moves are afoot to give it a boost.

An overhaul is planned by the Old Town Business and Professional Association, though final plans have yet to be revealed and the organisers of the event said they expected to continue as normal.

Tony Martin, who runs the market, said: “It’s going slowly, but it’s hanging in there and keeping going.

“There are a few traders who have got in touch and are coming on board and it will slowly build up.

“As we get to the summer months, we will be doing more advertising and handing out leaflets to raise its profile. I have high hopes it will continue.”

Mr Martin said fuel costs in financially strained times were preventing traders from leaving other longer-running markets to take part.

He said: “All markets have trouble getting established. Traders from other areas may have to travel 20 miles and it cuts into their profit margins.

“The Wood Street market is a baby as it has only been going three years, other markets might have almost 40 stalls, but they have been going for more than twice that time. We started with somewhere in the region of 35 stalls and since then it has gone down for various reasons.

“But we are ticking along and we will build as time goes on.”

Mr Martin, who is based in London and runs markets across the south, added: “The market is there to promote local businesses and get them better trade, it’s not just about us. Shoppers come and visit and then go for a meal or a coffee and have a happy day there.”

By contrast the market at the Swindon Designer Outlet Centre, which also runs on Sundays, is thriving with a full compliment of traders.

When the Wood Street event began in 2010 the organisers behind the existing spot warned they had experienced a difficult time setting it up and questioned whether the town could support two similar attractions on the same day.

But the Old Town organisers said they would offer different products.

The Old Town Business and Professional Association is planning an overhaul of the market, but has not yet revealed the details.

Chairman Iain Black said: “There’s a proposal on the table which we are considering as an association to effectively review the current offering and make the market bigger and better. It’s a case of watch this space.”

The Wood Street market normally takes place on the third Sunday of every month between 10am and 4pm.