STALLHOLDERS at Bolton's Market Hall are heading for pastures new after being forced to leave this weekend.

The Market Hall closes on Saturday for a £30 million revamp, which means stallholders must move out so that a modern shopping mall can be built in their place.

But nine stallholders will form a temporary breakaway Market Hall directly across the road at the Knowsley Department Store in Knowsley Street next week.

Ian Miller, chairman of Bolton Market Hall traders' association, said: "It's good that a lot of people from the market are going to stay in Bolton.

"Traders have been vigorously looking around to find new premises. It's nice that shoppers can still get the service they've enjoyed for so many years."

Chris Brayshaw, of Matisse Umbrellaworld, who is the fourth generation of his family to run a stall at the Market Hall, will start moving stock to the Knowsley store on Sunday.

He said: "It's an exciting challenge. We do a lot of business on the internet now, but it's important to keep our face in the town."

Pippa Iliff, who bought her baby clothes stall, Scowcrofts, two years ago, is also moving to the Knowsley store.

She said: "It will be sad on the last day because we are leaving a lot of friends behind, and everything we've built up here.

"But quite a lot of us moving across know each other, so we'll see how it goes."

Eastwood's Curtains, Karela Lighting and Stitches are also moving to the store, which has previously sold just furniture.

Nicola Regan, manager of Cappuccino's Cafe, plans to move to The Market Place, which joins on to the Market Hall.

She said: "We're taking a positive approach to it. It's sad that we are moving after 16 years, but we hope our customers will follow us."

Other stallholders plan to announce where they will be moving soon, but many are still searching for premises.

Existing businesses including Westwells Florist, Stokes Opticians, C&J Carter Jewellers, Photoworld, Varanni, Pink and Millers Bags will be accommodated within the 96,000 sq ft Market Hall development when it opens. Cappuccino's hopes to return to the revamped Hall in addition to keeping its new Market Place branch.

l High street stores Zara, H&M, Starbucks, Principles, Warehouse and Carphone Warehouse have already signed up for the new Market Hall shopping mall, and are expected to be open by September, 2008. Nine small units remain available for let.

Bolton Council took the decision to redevelop the Hall despite a 77,000-name petition calling for the stallholders to remain. They have now received compensation.