Bosses at Clacton's oldest market have been given a last-minute reprieve - just 24 hours before it was due to close.

The Tuesday market in Jackson Road was due to be held for the last time tomorrow. But due to a late change of heart from site owners National Car Parks it has been allowed to stay put for the foreseeable future.

Mike Taylor, of East Anglia Markets, who runs the operation, said he was delighted with the turnaround.

"All the various problems have been sorted and we will be able to continue," he said.

"This means that we will be around for the long term - not just the short term and we are looking to build up both our traders and customers again."

This Is Essex last week revealed that the market had been given just seven days to quit the site.

NCP said the closure was due to rent arrears and that Mr Taylor's licence had ended.

Mr Taylor said that the arrears would be cleared and were no longer a matter of dispute.

"I have now been able to speak to the right person at the company who has given us their blessing and said that we can continue as long as the market looks after itself.

"My plea now is for the shoppers to come back and support the market so that we can make sure it is a viable operation again.

"We have had a very loyal bunch and I am hoping they will back us."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.