OUTDOOR market traders in Bury have enlisted the help of loyal customers in their fight to remain at their present location.

And 700 members of the public signed a protest letter on the first day, backing the traders' "we shall not be moved" stance.

Last month, around 200 members of Bury Market Traders' Association rejected the proposed transfer which is a key element of the planned £150 million revamp of the town's Mill Gate centre.

As part of the blueprint put forward by centre co-owners Westfield, the indoor and outdoor market together with the fish and meat hall would move to what the company describe as an "improved location" next to the Interchange, near Kay Gardens.

But traders are unhappy about the prospect and claim their new stalls will not be in the heart of the redeveloped town centre.

Now, outdoor stallholders are asking customers to sign a protest letter. Association treasurer Mr Alan Garman said: "We have produced our own letter for the public to sign, expressing their disapproval at Westfield's plans to move the market.

"We had 700 signatures on the first day and the response from the public has been very encouraging."

The letter asks shoppers to register their "strong disapproval" over the plans.

All the signatures will eventually be presented to Bury Council chief executive Mark Sanders. Westfield hope to lodge a formal planning application for the £150 million redevelopment with the local authority by the end of the year.