Hounslow market is back, with a couple of familiar faces.

A slimmed down market, with 10 stalls selling food and a range of other goods, opened earlier this month by the Bell pub just off Hounslow High Street.

The market is set to expand in the next month or so to include another 14 stalls the other side of new benches in the High Street itself.

Among those at the new market are Catherine Hallahan and her partner Brian Linskey, who sell blankets and accessories like gloves, hats and belts.

They ran a stall for several years in the High Street, only to be kicked off by the council when the old market opened in spring last year.

Good to be back. Hounslow market stallholder Catherine Hallahan

Ms Hallahan said they had been out of work for the last 18 months, having failed to find an opening at another market, and it was a relief to be back.

"All our old customers have visited and said how glad they are to have us back. They love our blankets," she said.

"The last year and a half has been a nightmare. All the other markets have long waiting lists so it was lovely to get a call from the new operator inviting us back.

"We're really excited about the new market. Brian's been trading in Hounslow for more than 25 years, originally with a shop and then the market stall."

Ms Hallahan and her partner were among several long-running traders forced to move on from Hounslow High Street after the council refused to renew their licences ahead a world food market opening in spring 2013.

Only food traders were invited to run stalls at that market, operated by Saunders Markets. Having been plagued by complaints about smoke, rubbish and the poor quality of produce, it closed shortly before Christmas that year.

The new market, run by Tudor Markets, includes a variety of stalls, including a fishmonger, fruiterer, fast food vendors and fashion retailers some of which are there five days a week every weekday and others just once a week.

The market is only open from Monday to Friday at the moment, but the plan is to have it running at weekends as well once it has expanded.

Hounslow market stallholder Luke Congerton

Luke Congerton , who runs the fruit and veg stall, lives in Isleworth and is a wholesale trader at Western International Market in Southall. His family have been in the business for 40 years.

"It's been brilliant so far. It's a breath of fresh air for the town centre and it's already drawing more people here, even before it's been expanded," he said.

"It's good to have a range of products. Not just food stalls. They could do with getting a good butcher here."

Fishmonger Damian Shaw has come all the way down from his home to open his stall, Shoreway Fisheries, which is at the market from Tuesday to Friday every week.

He said he had been looking for a move to London and was excited about the bigger market, but said it needed a bit more advertising.

Fishmonger Damian Shaw, who's come all the way from Lancashire to open his stall in Hounslow

Customers said they were pleased to see a wider range of goods on sale at the new market.

Darren Kril, a builder living in Hounslow, said: "I think it's better than what they had before and I expect to be back here frequently."

Tariq Mirza, a security guard, also of Hounslow, said: "I prefer the mixture of goods available here to what they had before, and it looks a bit smarter, which is good."

Market manager George Jennings said there were different stalls throughout the week, including some selling arts and crafts goods. He said it had been busy so far, even before the official launch.

He added that he was aware of some of the issues with the old market like the rubbish and smoke.

"We've kept smoke down to a minimum and we haven't had any complaints. We also have large rubbish containers which are emptied every day," he said.