Storm Darragh: Market traders ‘need more footfall after closures’

Joseph Malin, a stall holder at the market, estimated his turnover was down 10% to 15% with the day’s closure.

He said: “We only have five big Saturdays for the duration of the market whilst we’re here and one of them was lost, unfortunately. But, hopefully, between now and next week, we can recoup some of those losses.”

Trader Nicholas Hocking said: “Saturday is like the biggest day of the week – it’s usually full of people, it’s where you get the most trade.

“You kind of live for the weekend at these markets, so not ideal. But, at the end of the day, it was a big storm and they did the right thing by closing it down.”

In Falmouth, Tracy Woodcock, who owns Bow Fashion, emphasised the importance of shopping locally in the run-up to Christmas.

She said: “We need to see more footfall; it’s gone a lot quieter.

“In tourist towns, seaside towns, in January and February, we know it’s going to be really quiet, so we were relying on that weekend.

“We’re still going to make it count, we’ve got plenty of time to.

“We’re here and we still want to see people.”