Traders are found for every stall in market

New stalls to open at the market recently include a fashion shop, a tattooist and a beautician.

The interim town centre services manager at Barnsley Council, Anne Untisz, said having a full complement of traders on two floors meant shoppers could choose from an "impressive selection" of fresh food, fashions, books, household goods and children's items.

She said: "There seems to be a big upturn in new, smaller businesses setting up and the market provides an ideal opportunity to start out.

"Many of the new traders are in businesses we have not previously seen on the market and they are aiming their products at young or family customers."

The popularity of the market among traders is further shown by the fact there have been multiple enquiries whenever vacant units have been advertised, Ms Untisz added.

President of the National Market Traders Federation Geoff Blackburn, who trades on the market, said he was delighted by the news. "This, coupled with the buoyancy of trade in the semi-open market, is really encouraging for traders in Barnsley," he said. "While business continues to be hard for many businesses, Barnsley market is weathering the current economic conditions much better than the majority of other markets, and is seeing many new customers discovering its high quality."

Barnsley's indoor market is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday each week, with second-hand goods being sold on a Tuesday. A car boot sale is held every Sunday.

This success comes after photographs taken of sweet, flower and fish stalls at the market were enlarged and attached to the inside of 17 empty shop windows in busy areas of Barnsley.

That project was part of a town centre improvement programme, with the work being funded jointly by the council and regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.