A historic second-hand market has closed. The outdoor flea market of up to 200 stalls at Salford Shopping Centre in Pendleton was held for the final time on Thursday.

The weekly market, which has met for decades outside Salford Shopping Centre, has been shut along with the precinct’s Sunday car boot sale.

Salford Estates, which owns the precinct, said it was forced to close them because the number of bogus traders selling counterfeit goods had got out of hand – something the stallholders disputed.

The majority were Salford residents selling second-hand goods.

A small number of traders – those with licences from the council – have moved inside the precinct’s indoor market hall, which is remaining open.

Marie Piekarski has gathered hundreds of signatures in her fight to save the flea market.

She is calling on the council, which sold the land to Salford Estates, to provide an alternative venue and will be suggesting the site of the former Clarendon High School on Churchill Way, which has been demolished, or the former Margaret Whitehead Specialist School, on the corner of Seedley Road and Fitzwarren Street, as options.

Marie, of Seedley Park Road, Seedley, said: "It is really sad – people are losing the social side as well."

Debbie Illingworth, a spokeswoman for Salford Estates, said: "We are delighted all of the licensed traders from the outdoor market decided to relocate into the indoor market."