Traders may be poached to give Burgess Hill market a new lease of life.

Market bosses hope to double the number of stalls at the weekly event in the next few months.

About 17 stallholders trade at the market, which was reopened two weeks ago after its shock closure in March.

Lyn Evans, managing director of Partnership 2000, which has taken over running the market, said he hoped to increase this to about 30 by the summer.

Mr Evans said: "We've had two market days since opening in the new location in Cyprus Road and it's been very encouraging.

"It's a lot busier, with more people visiting than ever and fresh stallholders applying for pitches.

"We've also seen an increase in demand from existing traders who want extra space to display their stock."

The market was previously in Church Road car park but was shut by Mid Sussex District Council on March 15 over claims the previous operators, Countrywide Markets, had run up about £11,000 in arrears.

It was opened two weeks later by Partnership 2000 and moved to Cyprus Road.

Mr Evans said: "Our biggest problem is the market has suffered so badly over a number of years and has developed quite a poor reputation, especially among stallholders."

He said some traders has other Saturday pitches, were happy where they were and did not want to move.

But he added: "We are canvassing and physically visiting other markets to see if we can tempt stallholders to Burgess Hill."

He also hopes to move the market to The Martlets shopping precinct.

He said: "Our job is to remove the poor reputation of the market and help it grow."

Partnership 2000 is also inviting charities to take advantage of a free stall.