TRADERS at an under-fire market have begged shoppers to stand by them – and they have enlisted the support of a Southend United player.

Shrimpers midfielder Lee Sawyer was at Southend’s York Road market on Friday to help Southend Council relaunch and revive interest in the market, which will only run on Fridays.

He said: “It’s important to keep it open for the community. Markets have their uses and they can be popular. It is good to help give it a push.”

There were about a dozen stalls, including one for plants, meat, fruit and veg, clothes, bags, nuts, books and records, burgers and handmade jewellery.

Ketina Gunda, 46, who runs the clothes stall, said: “I would like to see the market grow.

“I’m bringing in more stock and I am starting to sell more. People should come and they should tell their friends.”

John Sparks, 68, who runs the popular plant and flower stall, which is also at Roots Hall market on Thursdays, said: “As long as it’s going, we will still come.

“It’s had ups and downs, but we are doing a very steady trade. It’s definitely worth people sticking with the market and coming down here.

“If more customers come, then more stalls will come as well.”

Southend Council bosses have effectively given the market one last roll of the dice and want to see trade pick up in the next few weeks.

It was brought in, just behind the High Street, in April after calls to replace the hugely popular indoor market which closed in October 2009 after concerns about the building’s structural safety.

Eddie Sabatina, who manages the market on behalf of Geraud Markets UK, said: “There’s nothing better than a full market with lots of business and we are getting people in. In the past seven weeks I have seen regulars come back and numbers increase.”

However, some shoppers still need more convincing.

Sue Falla, who is in her fifties and lives in Marine Avenue, Leigh, said: “It was a highlight of my youth being allowed to run around York Road market, but this one has no character, it’s a shame. I feel for the traders.”