MALVERN'S Friday market may be moved to a more central location in the hope of reviving trade.

The market, which currently takes place in the Council House car park on Priory Road, is attracting fewer and fewer traders and shoppers.

Plans are now being mooted by the Town Centre Partnership to hold the market in a more central location, such as Abbey Road.

Anthony Collis, town centre manager, said the Friday market would continue at the Council House car park while the Partnership looked into the matter.

He said: "It's not something that's going to happen in the immediate future but it is part of the town centre regeneration. We would like to see something more in the town centre."

The proposal has been welcomed by Abbey Road traders.

Helen I'Anson, owner of the Pepper and Oz cafe and bar, said: "I think it would be much better. Coming from France, where they close a road off for half a day and everybody knows about it, it would be no hassle and could be good for trade."

Chris Leyland, owner of Cridlan and Walker grocers, said: "It would do us good."

Operator Grenchurch ended its contract to run the market on Friday. Doug Cotton, markets executive for the company, said that it had decided it was not worthwhile renewing it.

He said: "It wasn't financially viable, but probably a more important point was that we felt that it doesn't appear that Great Malvern has a demand for a market beyond the handful of traders that have established trade there.

"If there's a new unit, we would hope 100 per cent that it will be a success. But at the end of the day, it will only be a success if the shoppers of Malvern patronise it. If you want a community event of that nature, it's really got to be supported."