A POPULAR Hampshire town market has began to make steps towards opening more stalls following their closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ringwood Market has opened a third stall following a short break due to safety reasons and stall holders following the latest government guidelines.

The Everyday Essentials Household Stall returned on Wednesday selling latex gloves , blue rolls , antibacterial sprays , toilet rolls , bin bags and many more essential items.

The market was also selling Union Jack bunting in preparation for VE Day this Friday.

Other stalls, who had been returning to the market place for a small period of time, were also open for business.

Stall holders have been ensuring that customers are taking heed of the 2m distancing rules while buying goods.

Jim Stride, who promotes the market on Facebook, explained that before the lockdown was in place there were 22 stalls that would fill the market place stretching down the length of the high street.

He said: "We're trying to avoid having too much of everything so we won't have loads of food stalls down here at the moment.

"One little stall has stayed here selling food, but today we have house hold goods back this week.

"After putting it on Facebook, [the market] has taken off and we have seen quite a few people down here.

"People are sticking to the rules themselves and keeping a safe distance, but the stall holders are quick to make people aware if they are breaking any rules.

"It's nice to see people coming out."

Deputy Town Mayor Philip Day said that although two stalls had remained open during this time, it has been a "great shame" that measures caused the market to reduce it's size.

He said: "The Town Council try to help promote the market, and we try to do all we can to support it.

"It's a great shame that this [lockdown] has happened, and it's a great shame for the market.

"I am looking forward to what our Prime Minister has to say on Sunday and I hope that stall holders are making sure they are taking the right measures."

The market place is open from 8am to 3pm on Wednesdays.