A MARKET trader has put in a proposal to buy Westhoughton Market to secure its future.

Brad Hargreaves, aged 22, will be the private owner of the Market Street venue, should his proposal be accepted by Bolton Council.

The former luggage trader, who started on the market two years ago, said he "wants to bring community spirit back to Westhoughton".

Mr Hargreaves, who currently has a weekly licence from the council on land at the rear of the market, said: "I just can't wait to get going and see it change and evolve and bring fresh life into it.

"The first thing I want to do is put a new front on the market, new signage and make it stand out and be very noticeable.

"I'm looking to build a cafe on the shop front so they can open longer and more days if they want to.

"I also want to make the market a green place, so it will have solar panels on the roof to use renewable energy.

"I want to heat the building as well because it gets so cold in winter and get LED lights in to cut the carbon footprint down."

He also wants to bring a butcher, fishmonger and baker on to the market.

Trader Katherine Higham, who has been on the market almost 11 years said: "Brad has a passion for this market.

"It is his first business venture and he has such drive, commitment and ambition and we have never had that before.

"Without Brad the market would have either been sold to a developer who would have knocked it down and made houses on it or it would have closed.

"I am very excited for the future of this market."

One trader Steve Howarth said he thought the proposed sale of the market had been "underhanded" and questioned why the market had "not been put on the open market".

However Bolton Council said the market was not up for sale, but Mr Hargreaves had approached the council with his proposal.

A council spokesman said: “We want Westhoughton Market to continue and prosper as a market, however it is now in need of significant repairs and investment.

“We have received a proposal from a current trader which we are currently considering, which would see the market continue but in private ownership with investment in its infrastructure.

"This investment would be one way of securing the market’s future.

"If another trader wishes to speak to us then we would consider their proposal.

“This is currently the best offer on the table which secures the market’s future."