A market trader is waging a one-woman battle to get Southend Council to put the town's York Road market on the tourist map.

Susan Gray, of Westcliff, has drawn up petitions and written to the council, but claims she is still being ignored.

Mrs Gray, 45, runs a stall in the secondhand market selling collectors' items from the 1960s. She wants new sign-posts put up to tell people the market exists.

She has tried to get other stall-holders involved in her campaign, but she says too many have been discouraged by the council's response.

She said: "I passed a petition around and everybody round here signed it, but nothing happened. The council just ignored us and people felt let down. They just thought there was nothing they could do to change things."

Mrs Gray has continued her campaign alone and regularly writes to Southend Council demanding the market is advertised as a tourist attraction by the council and the tourist information centre.

She said: "There are some great stalls down here, but there are no signs to it and a lot of people, even locals do not know it is here.

"People love the kind of stuff we sell down here. If it had the right publicity the place could become like Camden Market in London."

Mrs Gray said the council was failing the stallholders.

She said: "We pay £30 a week to the council for these stalls and they do nothing to promote the market.

"It is near the bus station and within walking distance of two train stations.

"It could be a real tourist trap for people who come for the day if it was advertised properly."

A council spokesman said: "The council is not responsible for promoting the market or carrying out repairs on it. It is up to the stall-holders to carry out any advertising for the market.

"But if people are unhappy with the present situation, the town entre manager is quite happy to meet with them and discuss any problems or difficulties they might be having."

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