Happy shoppers have been flocking to an indoor market since its successful re-launch last month.

The Indoor Market at Hartlepool's Middleton Grange Shopping Centre has undergone a facelift over the summer with new stalls and incentives to entice back shoppers.

Hundreds turned up on Saturday 5th September to check out the latest offerings as the market was re-launched by Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond along with Hartlepool United star Adam Boyd and Pools mascot H'Angus the Monkey.

Mayor Drummond said: "We have got the market off to a fantastic start because people have said it hasn't been this busy for 15 years. Hopefully, this is just a taste of things to come.

"I'm sure the businesses here will really flourish thanks to the regeneration programme and congratulations to the new stallholders who are taking the plunge for the first time."

The programme is the brainchild of Hartlepool Borough Council's Enterprise Team, with support from Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, One North East and Make Your Mark, a campaign which encourages young people to make the most of their entrepreneurial skills.

Andrea Miles, Manager of Hartlepool Enterprise Centre, said: "These plans have been in the pipeline for two years now, so to finally see the market bustling again is just fantastic.

"I am so proud of the people of Hartlepool who see how important it is to support their local market and have come out in their hundreds. I hope they continue to use the market and help us make this place an ongoing success."

Amongst the 23 new stalls at the market is a florist, a photographer, beauty therapist and jewellery designer, whilst several have been occupied by colleges and business support agencies to encourage people to start their own businesses.

Natalie Mullen, who has taken a stall for her business the Wild Rose Florist, said: "It's going to be great to have so much passing trade right in the centre of Hartlepool. The great thing about markets is that there's a real community spirit and people come to browse and look at all the stalls. I'm sure all of the traders will benefit."

Shopper Alison Barnes, who was there with her two-year-old daughter Lucy, added: "I'm very impressed, we have been here nearly an hour just looking around and I have never seen it as busy as this.

"You can see there has been a lot of hard work not just to make the market a welcoming place and entice the shoppers back, but a lot of thought has gone into the new stalls and businesses."