BRADFORD’S independent traders will be selling their wares at a new weekly online market.

With lockdown now entering its fourth week - many of Bradford’s smaller, independent traders have been left with little to no income for a month.

Now, thanks to a new venture, they will have a new outlet to show off their goods.

The Bradford Street Market will be held on Facebook every Thursday from 9am to 5pm, allowing people to browse a “virtual indie quarter” occupied by local makers and craft businesses.

Rather than just post links to their web pages, traders are being asked to post images or videos of their stock, as well as details of the business.

They then add links to their Facebook page or website and how customers can best contact them.

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Even after the market has “shut up shop” for the day, people will still be able to view items posted by vendors and get in touch.

All the transactions will be carried out within government guidelines.

The project was set up to allow traders to stay on their feet while they are unable to physically open their stalls or attend markets.

And people who have yet to visit the stores or local markets in person will get to see what they may have been missing out on.

The market has been organised by Ursula Sutcliffe from Plant One On Me in the city centre and Catherine Simes, who said: “The coronavirus lockdown has had a devastating effect on many local independent retailers and makers and is taking us all away from our town centres and high streets.

With this in mind we thought that while the lockdown is in place we’d create a weekly online market where independent retailers and makers can share their wares and local people can come and find things they might not be able to get hold of, while investing in local businesses too.

“The idea is to create an online indie quarter to promote the best of Bradford.”

Before lockdown there had been an upsurge in independent businesses in the city centre, and plans were well underway for a new independent quarter based around SunbridgeWells.

Mrs Sutcliffe said the market was a creative way for businesses to continue generating income through the lockdown, adding: “We’re hoping to get as many independents involved as possible.

“A lot of people who run small businesses from their homes are feeling left behind - we’re hoping this market will give them a platform to keep going.

“We don’t want to come out of all of this to find out most of the traders people have been getting to know have gone. I know that some people are just days away from that happening.

“We don’t want it to be like Facebook Marketplace or Ebay. It will be more a case of them giving visitors a bit of information about themselves and a bit about their products.”

The marketplace will feature businesses selling items including food, beer, gifts and crafts.

To visit the market, or to sign up as a business, join the Facebook group Bradford Street Market.