CRADLEY Heath Market has closed due to a chronic lack of trade but its owners are hoping either ASDA or Lidl will take it over.

London based Oyster Properties called time on the market after the number of stalls and shoppers at the 40-stall capacity hall continued to fall.

A spokesman said: "The last year and a half we have been trying to revive the market and get it back to where it should be but we either did not have the right people coming in or they were just not coming at all.

“Unfortunately it has not survived but are keen to look to the future and get someone in the space.”

The remaining stall holders in the market have been moved to units nearby, also owned by Oyster Properties.

The spokesman added: “Since it has been empty we have spoken to a few large retail companies who could bring more footfall into Cradley Heath by taking over the old space.

“These include names such as Home Bargains, Asda and Lidl. Our focus is to look for the right person to go into there now.

“What is extremely positive is the fact that it has created an entrepreneurship in the town as the adjoining shop units that some holders have moved into are doing very well.

“We want to see the whole of Cradley Heath regenerated in a similar way.”

However, the High Street now has less empty shops than five years ago and shopkeepers called on residents to support their local shops.

Louise Reid, from J Thompson Jewellers, said: "It is sad the market closed but there are plenty of good shops in Cradley Heath.

"We need to tell everyone that we are all still open for business and there are plenty of interesting and unique shops on the High Street."