Leicester's £600,000 Market Corner has been deserted by food retailers just four months after it opened.

The city council promised a "diverse mix of local culinary heavyweights every Friday and Saturday" when the open-air food court opened in May.

But instead, the number of traders has dwindled from 12 to just one this weekend.

Stallholders who have left the market said they were not making enough money to continue.

Brockleby's, which sells pies and meat, stayed for about two months.

Sales manager Alan O'Donnell said: "It was a disaster.

"It looks good, but it's in the wrong place. Not enough people walk past it because it's hidden away at the back of the market.

"I spoke to one trader who said she'd suffered her worst ever day of trading when she set up stall there.

"We're still doing really well at other markets, it was only in Leicester that we had problems."

Anita Hickey, who runs cake business Viva La Cupcake, said she too was doing better elsewhere. She said: "I traded there a few times but it just wasn't worth it.

"There were quite a lot of traders there to begin with but more left each week. In the end I decided that it didn't make sense to continue at Market Corner and I went elsewhere."

The area, at the corner of the market and next to the Corn Exchange, is fitted with 20 temporary, gazebo-style stalls which replaced 37 fixed market stalls. The space includes an outdoor area to eat. Plans are being put together to fit heaters for the winter months.

Three firms still have contracts with Leicester City Council to operate at the site, but Pick's Organic Farm and Shop was the only trader there at the weekend.

Nicky Chambers, a partner in the firm, said: "It certainly isn't as busy as it could be but it gives us a prime city centre location for two days each week.

"On some days we're the only ones trading at Market Corner but we've got regular customers at the market now and we'll continue to trade there."

Deputy city mayor Rory Palmer said it would take time for people to become aware of the area.

He said: "There have been difficulties so far but it's too early to say that it has flopped or anything like that. It has so much potential. It's new and it'll take time for people to get to know where it is and make it a regular part of their city centre shopping visit.

"The area is not just for food retailers, either; we have antique sales and other events taking place there. It's an important space in the city centre."

But yesterday, city centre shoppers said they were unconvinced by the deputy mayor's optimism.

Student Maria Whitfield, 21, from Braunstone Gate, Leicester, said: "I like Leicester market but the food court is tucked away at the back. It doesn't have much passing trade."

Geoff Hurst, 52, from Oadby, said: "I'd happily sit outdoors eating a snack or a meal if I was in picturesque surroundings, but the market is hardly the ideal place to relax and unwind."

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