A LONG-STANDING Bradford business has shut up shop after decades in the city.

It is thought Sydneys The Jewellers, in Rawson Road, closed last week in what marks another departure from the Oastler Centre.

Jeff Frankel, who ran the shop for more than 40 years, declined to comment.

Bradford and District Markets Services confirmed on social media that the Little Tea House was also no longer trading from the centre.

Meanwhile, other traders have called on more to be done now to give the market a boost until its move as part of a £15m Council regeneration scheme.

Under the plan, the former Marks & Spencer building in ailing Darley Street would become a new food market, to replace the existing Oastler Centre.

Peter Pundit, owner of Pundit’s clothes shop, said: “Something needs to be done to keep it going in the short-term.”

He said that around six traders had left in the past six weeks, and the problem was not the market, but the struggle to bring people in.

Imti Mahmood, of Solly’s Fruit & Veg, said: “It’s getting more and more difficult to trade. There’s a lot of people worried about their livelihoods.”

Jill Craig, of Mr D’s Discount, said the proposed move was “something to look forward to”, but said traders needed public support to get them there.

But Karen Wood, of Woodies Cafe, said: “There’s a major problem, we’re all struggling big style. It’s just the morale is really low. The footfall is really bad. We’ve got a big hole in the middle of town.”

She said rent was too high and discussions had been taking place about reductions.

David Crompton, of A.J Pickup & Son Butchers, added: “We find ourselves paying city centre rent, when we are not in the city centre.” He said the service charge had “sneaked up” and the cost of rent was not reflective of footfall figures.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, executive member for Planning, Regeneration and Transport, said he had met tenant representatives last week and the Council remained committed to supporting traders in the short and medium term while plans were developed.