Over £40,000 has been paid in grants to Moorlands market traders by the District Council as it gets set to welcome new traders to Leek's outdoor market this week.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is offering grants to individual traders to help with rent, stall improvements and marketing. Licenced operators, or groups of traders, can also apply for up to £3,000 for marketing and promotion, entertainment or activities to attract new customers or traders.

And, as part of wider plans to offer opportunities to new stall holders, the Council has begun the process of expanding the outdoor market in Leek by having stalls at both the Market Place and Sparrow Park.

Three new stalls will be welcomed to the Market Place this week when traders selling women's clothes, men's clothes and hand made pies join other outdoor market businesses.

Council Leader, Councillor Sybil Ralphs, said: "I'm delighted that we're supporting our market traders with this additional, discretionary financial help as the impact of the pandemic continues to be felt.

"The grants are still open to both individual stall holders and market organisers so I'm encouraging any traders that haven't yet applied to please do so - we want to get this funding out to you and making a difference as quickly as we can.

"I'm also very pleased to be welcoming new traders to Leek's outdoor market. The long and gradual process of building the market is now underway and it is exactly so that we can offer opportunities to more businesses that we are looking to establish the market at both ends of the town.

"We want to see markets thrive and the grants and planned expansion of the Leek outdoor market are key to ensuring it continues to play a much-valued role in the vibrancy of the town."

You can find out more about the grants and apply via the district council website.

The deadline for applications is 28 February.