Shoppers called to 'Love Your Local Market' as popular event set to return to Stockton on 21 May

Come and celebrate the Borough's market culture and fantastic heritage with a special Love Your Local Market Event in Stockton on Saturday 21 May.

The event takes place in Stockton Town Centre and is among 1,000 events taking place across two weeks to celebrate the history and values of traditional markets.

On offer this year will be free face painting for children, a market trail with free goodie bag giveaways and costumed prince and princesses meeting and greeting visitors, as well as an array of fantastic local market traders with a variety of products to sample and purchase.

Also making its return is the Young Traders Market competition, where young people under 30 can take up a stall for free to test their business idea. The winner has a chance of appearing at the regional final at Darlington on Saturday 23 July and then the national final in Stratford upon Avon in August.

Residents and visitors are being urged to support the young stallholders in Stockton Town Centre in May, while enjoying a great local outdoor shopping experience.

The event, founded by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) takes place on Saturday 21 May between 10am and 3pm.

Councillor Nigel Cooke, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: "Markets are a key part of life in our Borough and Love Your Local Market is always a popular event in Stockton.

"We're pleased to show our support for this campaign and to thank those involved in running the markets across the Borough for what they do.

"I'm sure that the focus on fun for all of the family will bring lots of people into the Town Centre to see what is on offer at the market. There's also the chance to visit the host of independent shops in the area, The Shambles indoor market and the Enterprise Arcade businesses to really make a day of it."

Support your local market and the budding traders of the future!

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