THE weekly market at the Market Cross in Malmesbury has struggled over the past 12 months.

In that time it has changed hands after the initial owners, Oxford Markets, dropped it for “commercial reason”.

The town have rallied round however, as they so often do, to help keep it alive.

Two Malmesbury residents took over the reins at the beginning of the year to steady the ship and now, thanks to £8,000-worth of investment from local councils and concerned groups, its future has never looked more secure.

The market is situated at the historic Market Cross in the town, a place that would have been a hub for trading centuries ago.

For that reason it is perhaps even more important the market stays alive.

With every dying tradition, a piece of our nation’s fabric falls away, so it should be commended people are working so hard to maintain a market in that spot.

Wiltshire Council match-funded the £4,000 being granted to the market from S106 money courtesy of the town council and town team, showing they too can see the market’s potential.

Now all it needs is the support of the community.

Residents need to get down there every week to buy-up the fresh produce on offer because markets like these are becoming few and far between.