Market saved after news was read online at 30,000ft

Andrew Willan, 28, was looking at the internet during a flight home from Australia when he came across the story about Ribchester’s annual May Market facing closure, from the website of the Evening Post’s sister paper, the Longridge News.

Andrew, who lives in Ribchester and runs his own business in the village, has run stalls at the annual May Market and felt saddened to hear the news.

He said: “I thought I would take it up, it would he a shame to see it fold after all these years.”

So he contacted Audrey Talbot, who is unable to chair the market committee any more due to family circumstances, and who had made an eleventh hour plea for someone to come forward and save it.

They met up, and now the market, which is open for organisations, charities, businesses and individuals from either within or outside the village to run stalls for their own causes, will go ahead as planned on spring bank holiday, Monday May 30 and bookings for stalls are being taken.

The market will be staged on the car park at Bee Mill, where Andrew runs his internet business Spotty Green Frog, selling wooden children’s toys.

Previously held outside The White Bull, Andrew hopes to have around 40 to 50 stalls maximum.

He is also busy advertising the market and is organising a leaflet drop.

“It should be a big one this year and it is open to anybody to sell anything,” said Andrew, adding that it is £10 per stall and if you wish to book one, then please contact him on 01243 820678.