Traders mourned the end of an era yesterday as a much-loved market was held for the last time.

Since it was first set up more than 27 years ago, the Sunday market at Brighton Station has become one of the city's institutions.

Attracting people from across the city and further afield, it is a Mecca for antique hunters and those with an eye for a bargain.

But it has caused problems for Southern Railway, which owns the car park the market is held in.

The rail company said that when engineering work was needed, the replacement bus services that it operated were delayed by market traffic.

That disruption meant that market days had to be cancelled when the buses were running.

Now the market it is being moved to a new home three miles away at Brighton Marina but some traders and customers were worried it would not prove such a successful venue.

Dee Simson has worked her second-hand clothes stall at the market since it opened.

She said a petition by traders and a protest had all been fruitless but that her fellow stallholders, although not happy at having to move, were pleased to have somewhere to go.

She said: “It is a very sad day. The market has been here for such a long time and is a Brighton institution.

“This is a central location that is perfect for us. People come in off the train and straight here and those who live in the city can walk here easily.

“It won't be the same at the Marina, it is a two-bus journey for some people and others will have to drive.

“Everybody is really upset about it but I'm keeping an open mind about the Marina and I'm pleased that we have somewhere to go to.”

Roy Oliveros from Burgess Hill has been selling guitars and music equipment at the market for the last four years.

He said: “I'm really sad to leave here, it's been a great venue.

“Everybody knows where it is and when it is so we always get a lot of business.

“It won't be the same at the Marina but I'll give it a try.

“It's going to be a bit colder and windier down there.”

But Kirsty Harris, events and marketing manager at Brighton Marina, said she believed the market would thrive at its new home, saying the Marina had lots of free parking and already attracted a large number of people to its other attractions such as the cinema and shops.

John Ewer the market's manager was also positive about the move.

He said: “I have been here 20 years myself and it's very sad that we have to go but we have to accept that things move on.

“Brighton Station has done everything it can to help us stay there but we can't keep losing trading days because of engineering works.

“I think the Marina is going to be brilliant for us. It will offer our customers a lot more because there are other things they can do there.”

The market moves to the Marina for a three-month trial period on Sunday.