Bradford traders reflect as historic markets close for good

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Khalid Mahmood, 68, set up Solly’s Fruit and Veg – named after his father – in 1994.

“It’s sad,” he said. “I’m really going to miss it here.

“We’ve been here 31 years and since starting here we’ve had really good days.

“But now it’s very quiet here and we have to go to the new site, where it will hopefully be more busy because it’s near to the banks and the Broadway shopping centre.”

His son Imti, 42, who has been working at the market for more than 15 years, added: “It’s quite odd really, because we’ve been here for so long and serviced the community for such a long time.

“But, as traders, I think we’re all very excited to go to a brand new market, which is a little bit more central in location to the city.

“Over the years, we’ve found the top end of the centre, where this market is, has been quite difficult for consumers to get to.

“All the consumer and retail interest has shifted towards Broadway and the bottom end of town, so I think it’s quite an exciting prospect that we are going to be more central.”