Traders want bumper weekend

Traders at this year's West Mid Show were hoping for a bumper event with more visitors than ever.

Catherine Lindsay, who runs a franchise store called Joules, said: "We've been here now for the last six or seven years.

"Last year it was an excellent weekend and there were an awful lot of people. It was our best West Mid Show ever for what we took.

"It's obviously weather dependent but it's a popular show. We were open today from about 8.30am and won't close until the main arena closes. Everybody here is always very friendly and helpful."

Michael Hutton, who runs Pol-Amber which sells amber jewellery, said: "It's all amber set in silver and gold. There's many items for customers and pieces of pre-historic insects set in them.

"This is the fifth West Mid Show we have done. We have been coming back so far so it's good for us. We are hoping to this year enjoy the company of all the local people and that some of our customers who have seen us before will come back."

Stall holders Karen and Bill Dodd, who run Small World which makes wooden toys and games, said they always enjoyed coming back to the West Mid Show.

Mr Dodd said: "Other shows this year have been quite poor but we are hoping the West Mid Show will go well. It was very good last year. We hope all the 30,000 visitors will just spend £1 with us and then we will be able to go home half way through."

Doreen Caplan, has set up a magnet therapy bracelet shop, selling all sorts of jewellery to aid various illnesses and ailments.

She said: "We've been coming to the show for about five years. We keep coming back because it is good for us.

"It is a very friendly show and it's well organised."