A GREENGROCER has thanked the community for coming together to help save the town's market.

Decades of families' dedication and hard work were in jeopardy of being wiped out after Cotswolds Markets decided to pull out of running Bracknell's market.

Andy Dudman, whose family has been trading in the town for 60 years, had been fighting the decision tooth and nail and was 'over the moon' to see it reversed.

Speaking to the News, the 56-year-old, from Birch Hill said: "We are very relieved to hear the good news.

"We can't thank the customers enough for their support and the town in general for helping us fight this, it is really overwhelming.

"People were really up in arms about it but it was nice to see that news of our closure provoked that kind of response and people were upset to see us go."

Given the market’s dwindling trade it was unlikely another market operator would come forward to run Bracknell Market in its current form.

Victor Nicholls, assistant chief executive, said: "Unfortunately, the current market operator (Cotswold Markets) decided to withdraw from running Bracknell Market. The council has looked at alternative ways of keeping the market open but requires a trusted operator to run the market so all financial, legal and other day-to-day operations are carried out correctly. Finding a new operator is not a quick or easy process.

"We have been working with the regular market traders to find an interim solution, including street trading licences, while we continue to look into permanent arrangements.

"The council values the diversity a market can bring to a town centre and our masterplan clearly shows a market in the new Market Square.

"Therefore, we are continuing to work on what is needed to provide a successful market in our new town centre as well as find an interim solution."

The market will continue to trade every Friday and Saturday in Princess Square between 8am and 4pm, before hopefully returning to its old base by Winchester House in around 18 months' time, after the new development is finished.