ROMSEY town council are set to run the Romsey Market to ensure it has a "successful future."

The town council have signed an agreement to run the market alongside Bradbeers for the next 15 years.

The market which runs on a Tuesday, Friday and Saturday is "in need of revitalising" according to Town centre manager Mark Edgerley.

He said: "Market Traders, as with shop-based retailers, have had a difficult trading period recently, in Romsey the market enables long established traders to serve their regular customer and attract new ones which benefits the viability of the wider town.

He said: "The town council has the connections needed to make the market better.

"We have connections to traders and can improve promotion.

"Over the next 18 months we aim to get a better mix of traders, and make the Saturday market more food focused.

"There are a lot of local producers in Romsey and who are interested in getting involved."

The market currently has an mix of traders trading on one or more of the days, stalls include flowers, bread, olives, mobile phone repairs and accessories, pies and sausages, soap, fresh fish, bike repairs, cards and clothing.

Mark said: "This is a really good opportunity and I'm very positive.

"It's right and important that we should have a market."

The market has operated in the market town for more the 400 years and originally operated under the Royal Charter in 1607.

For the past 16 years the market has been run by Bradbeers under the licsence from Test Valley Borough Council.

Mark added: "The Town Council would be pleased to receive comments and ideas from the public related to the market, and to speak with potential new traders. "

The market takes place three times a week from 8am until 3pm

To get in touch with the town council call 01794512837.