MP Teams Up With Gary Lineker To Support National Markets Week

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 20th Jun 2007

Paul Holmes, Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield has teamed up with football legend Gary Lineker to highlight the importance of street markets like the one in Chesterfield.

Paul Holmes MP attended the launch of National Markets Week at the House of Commons on Monday 18th June. The week, organised by the All Party Group on the Markets Industry, is designed to highlight the importance of indoor, outdoor and farmers' markets in strengthening communities and providing cheap and healthy food.

Gary Lineker, the former England football captain who is the son of a Leicester market trade said: "Market traders are some of the most hard working men and women in the country. Many people depend on markets for their livelihoods. I am very pleased to support the markets industry and would like to see more young people entering the trade. Some people are so used to driving to supermarkets that they do not realise what a wonderful asset they have on their doorsteps - in the heart of their community - to get their five portions of fruit and vegetables a day."

Paul Holmes MP said: "Chesterfield's historic market is the oldest open air market in continuous use in England. The market is at the heart of the town and is an important reason for people to visit the town as well as a public space for local people to meet.

Markets make local town centres more vibrant. They strengthen communities and encourage people to eat healthy, local food, which is often cheaper than the supermarkets."

Markets also benefit the environment by contributing to a reduction in "food miles" and unnecessary and wasteful packaging of food."