Closing a town centre road to enable market stalls to spread out has been hailed a success - and will be repeated this Saturday.

Downes Street was closed to traffic on Saturday to make extra space for Bridport’s street market in a bid to enable shoppers to socially distance. It coincided with the monthly farmers’ market which is currently taking place in Barrack Street.

Will Austin, town clerk at Bridport Town Council, said: “We consider it very successful and, as happened with the farmers’ market, we will seek feedback from residents. We have had no complaints or concerns so far, just compliments.

“We only know of a few instances of people driving up too far and they had plenty of room to turn around.

“It was really good for opening up the town centre and rejuvenating economic activity. We intend to repeat it this Saturday.

“We also had the second farmers’ market on Barrack Street, and it has been a success and we’re looking to repeat it every four weeks.”

Social distancing in the town was a concern raised by resident Rosie Allsop, who suggested before shops reopened and the market returned that the town centre should be pedestrianised on south, east and West Street.

She felt unsafe visiting the town centre on a Saturday and felt this could provide more room for market stalls, businesses could put out tables and chairs and even serve customers from just outside their shops for those who didn’t want to go in.

However, this idea had a mixed reaction from local businesses and would not be taken forward by the town council.

Gill Crump of Instant Redress said she thought it would deter people coming into the town.

“All that would happen is people would come in and chaos created because they don’t know where they are going, driving around looking for car parking and probably going off in a huff,” she said.

“I put a stall out on Saturday to see if it made a difference because I had a lady who said she was too scared to go into shops, so I moved some of my clothing rails outside and people walked straight past and didn’t even look.

“I did most of my trade on Saturday after I brought the rail back in.”

Antonia Squire, of The Book Shop, said she ‘wasn’t automatically opposed’ to the idea but would have to look at the logistics.

Kevin Glenton, of Chilli by the Sea, agreed it would make people feel safer but didn’t think it would benefit the business as it is usually busy on market days and local people continue to support the shop.

Sarah Moore, of Moore Than Tea, said it would benefit her café on West Street.

She said: “On a Wednesday and Saturday, I can’t get any tables and chairs out at all because of the market.

“I haven’t opened my restaurant, which I appreciate that is my choice but I think it is a bit too early still, it absolutely kills me on a Wednesday and Saturday, so if I could get even three tables or two tables out, it would help me immensely.”

Debbie Peach, of Peach Electricals and Bridport Business Chamber, said: “We know there are some people in the town that think it’s a good idea, and in some respects has its merits, but from a business point of view, it would make it very, very difficult.”

However, Rosie did welcome the closing of Downes Street.

“I was pleased that the stalls had been moved back on Saturday, partly on the pavement and partly on the road leaving more space for people on the pavement to pass the stalls. Also, the market had been stretched out so that stalls were further apart and for instance in East Street stretched right up to the United Reform Church, so distances were better.

“Overall, I felt more relaxed.”