ONCE a rabble of bear baiting, shackled criminals and gypsies touting their wares, Brentford market's vacant grounds have been eerily silent since its closure nearly forty years ago.

However, one man has stood alone in an attempt to restore the market place to its former glory when he opened a traditional fruit and vegetable stall on Saturday (5).

The Medieval market was created as the population in the area grew and put Brentford on the map as a trading centre by the end of the 13th century.

At this time game from the nearby parks would have been touted on stalls as well as cloth brought in along the river.

Later on, during the 17th century, officials used the market place to publicly punish those who committed petty crimes, placing them in stocks and encouraging locals to taunt them,

But in 1974, the year that ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest and Harold Wilson was prime minister, the last trader's stall in Brentford was shut down.

However, one year ago Marcel Greve, 45, who moved to London from Holland in his early twenties, was enjoying a quiet drink in Brentford when he felt the town was missing out on some old fashioned trading.

Mr Greve, who has worked in the food industry for most of his life, thought he would rectify this by setting up his own stall.

He said: "I am really excited to have set up my own business and I am positive this will be a success. Though, of course I am a bit nervous and I am not looking forward to the cold weather."

He hopes to eventually employ staff from Brentford to help him on his stall, which will be his first business venture.

Ruth Cadbury, Brentford councillor, said: "I am really pleased that we are going to have fresh fruit and veg in the market, I wish him well."

The stall is open seven days a week from 8.30am to 6pm.