PART of old Leominster is about to pass into history. The last four stall holders of the once booming Grafton House antiques and bric-a-brac market will cease trading on Saturday.

"We're very sad," said Frances Keeble, who has sold books, china and other goods at the market, off Burgess Street, for 22 years.

"We've met a lot of lovely people and made a lot of good friends."

The other traders who are calling it a day are veterans Gladys Parker, aged 89, and Ann Sanders, who have both run stalls at the market for 28 years, and knitted goods specialist Barbara Mallet.

In its heyday Grafton Market, in the corrugated iron former Leominster Free Trade Hall, was often crammed with bargain hunters, particularly on market day, Friday.

A pool and snooker club recently became tenants of the main hall and the remaining market stalls moved to the first floor of the building.

Mrs Keeble said it had proved difficult for traders to attract elderly customer and mums with pushchairs upstairs.

The move, charity shops, car boot sales and the introduction of charges in the adjacent car park had all hastened the market's demise, she said.

Through the Hereford Times Mrs Keeble and her fellow traders wanted to thank customers for their support over many years.

The Leominster WI Market held at the same venue is not affected by the closure.