THE 18 stallholders who have been trading at the indoor market since it opened in 1987 have clocked up 378 years between them.

Butcher Graham Stubbs works behind the counter of the business his father, also Graham, ran in the Tontine Street market for more than two decades.

The 44-year-old said the key to the business's longevity was the way in which stock was carefully sourced and treated.

It has five full-time staff and a regular clientele, and Graham added that people are shopping around more and turning to markets as they feel the effect of the credit crunch.

He said: "A lot of people like to shop at supermarkets because of the convenience, but we find that a lot of people come and buy from us in bulk because of the price we sell at compared to the supermarkets.

"We have got an established business which works in a traditional way and which stands the test of time."

John Lake, of Davies And Lake footwear, has also been operating in the Potteries Shopping Centre for 21 years.

The 45-year-old said the specialist retailers offered a good choice for customers and as well as value for money.

He added: "It is good being self-employed and the customers are good.

"We try to give the customers a good service. That's very important as well as value for money, and when you compare our prices to the supermarket we are quite a bit cheaper."

Alan Warner has worked on his butcher's stall for 21 years and follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who first opened in 1918.

The 61-year-old said that 90 per cent of his customers were regulars who liked the tailored service available at the market.

He added: "There is still a need for markets because, for example, our bacon is at least a pound per pound cheaper than in the supermarkets, and they can have it cut as they like."

Norma Allmark, pictured, has also completed the 21 years on her stall Norma's Books And Toys.

The stall originally had a newsagent attached, but now primarily deals in books.

The 66-year-old has built up a number of loyal customers to the extent that she knows them all by name as well as what they enjoy reading.

Each year she sends 200 Christmas cards out to her customers, with the same number coming back to her.

Norma, who is having her own prize draw tomorrow to mark the market's birthday, said: "The good thing about the market is there are a lot of lovely people and nice customers. I love it just as much now as I did when I first came here."