BRIERLEY Hill Market is proving "more popular than ever", according to managers, as a long-awaited sale of the business goes through.

The bustling indoor market, which has been a part of the town's High Street since the 1930s, has recovered from rumours going back to last year that it could close - bosses say.

Doubt was thrown on its future when it emerged the historic venue had been put on the market last year but managers Wayne Jones and Stephen Banks say finalisation of the sale is imminent and "now it's obvious the market isn't closing" the place is thriving.

Mr Jones said: "It's more popular than ever - we've got a lot more stallholders. We've seen a lot of traders come back. It's looking good now. We've got 80 stallholders - and we've got some quite big stalls and very well established stalls."

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, Dudley's cabinet member for regeneration, popped along to officially open the newest - The Flower Cabin - on March 9.

He said: "I’d like to welcome The Flower Cabin to Brierley Hill Market - the newest business to set up in this historic market hall.

"We’ve big plans for Brierley Hill, with initiatives such as the new Enterprise Zone and Midland Metro extension coming to the town, and whether big or small, every business counts."

Stallholders were also recently buoyed by a visit from Black Country comedy star Doreen who stopped by and spent time chatting to traders as part of a new documentary she's starring in - Doreen's Black Country.

Stallholder turned caretaker Frank Chamberlain said: "Doreen was fantastic. She came in and spent three hours here and she was serving on one of the stalls. It was a great day, it really boosted everyone's spirits."

Mr Chamberlain has also been doing his bit to boost the market's profile and has set up a Facebook page @brierleyhillmarket and he said: "Brierley Hill Market is leading the way in trying to regenerate the High Street.

"We have cleaned up our building and promoted the market on social media.

"We have opened many new stalls lately including flowers, rugs, haberdashery, printing, photography and toiletries. It's going very well."