Traders at Brighton's West Pier set up a 'ghost market' as they protested at the council's decision to stop their trade.

The stallholders, who were given their notice to quit the West Pier Trust's market by Brighton and Hove Council last Saturday, manned empty stalls as they urged passers-by to sign their petition to be reinstated.

More than 30 traders had stalls, selling goods ranging from second-hand books and clothing to jewellery and pots, on the Esplanade at the West Pier but have now been left with vast amounts of stock and nowhere to set up their pitches.

Pete Fijalkowski, organiser of the peaceful protest, said they were receiving a huge amount of support from the public and had already collected more than 1,000 signatures by Saturday lunchtime.

He said: "We are having a peaceful protest against the council's decision to close down the market, which we believe wasn't fair, tactful, or polite and, possibly, even undemocratic because there was a complete lack of consultation with the traders.

"What we are asking the people of Brighton is 'do you think this is in the best interests of the seafront?'

"And the overwhelming message we are hearing is that people want the market because they find it part of Brighton's life."

He said previously the seafront around the West Pier had been earmarked as a trouble spot by the police and council because of noise, drink and drugs and the market had helped regenerate the area and made it more lively and exciting.

Rosanna Martin-Rae, who has run a stall for a number of years selling clothes which she designs and makes herself, said a lot of the traders had invested everything in the market and were now burdened with summer stock left sitting in their homes.

"We are hoping if we can drum up enough support and get enough names the council will reconsider its position.

"If not, then a lot of us will be unemployed because it is virtually impossible to get into another market at this time of the year."

Trader James Ogalvy, who sold mirrored objects, was busy collecting more signatures over the weekend. He said: "We are getting support - 99.9 per cent of the people are with us."

Brighton and Council announced the closure as part of a crackdown on illegal traders along the seafront.

A spokesman said the market was unlicensed and it was unfair on businesses who paid rent and rates for their seafront arches.

The traders intend to hand their petition to the council this week before councillors discuss the closure at a meeting tomorrow.