Capelli Remi has become the latest stall to abandon the indoor market.

Owner Daniel Kynaston says he is moving his hairpiece and piercing shop to the St John’s Arcade where rates are lower, footfall is higher and security is tighter.

But Daniel, who also runs Cherry Pie in the Market Hall, says he will keep the cafe as Preston City Council has promised to box in the stall.

He says: “I can’t keep both. Capelli Remi has been keeping Cherry Pie open so it needs to work.

“With the car park going, the foot fall is even lower than ever.

“It will be great when the cinema is in but who is paying for it now?

“They have offered us no relief.

“In St John’s there is four times the foot fall, the rent is half what I pay on the market and there are security guards.”

Daniel says he was optimistic about the plans for a new indoor market, but has been disappointed since moving in.

He said: “I’m done pretending this is any good.

“We have fresh bakes and Frederick’s ice cream, but I ask myself why I’m doing all this if there is no foot fall.

“They have come back and said they will enclose Cherry Pie and put a roof on it and they are bending over backwards there, so I’m going to give it one last try with a proper refit.

“The nets at the top keep the pigeons out but they just attract dust which falls all round. The dust and dirt is unreal.”

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In recent months several stall holders have abandoned the market saying they can not tolerate the working conditions.

Daniel says the market traders are worried about their livelihoods and fear financial repercussions of leaving.

He said: “The council are threatening everyone, saying they will chase us for the money. Everybody is terrified.

“There are fights and robberies every day in the market – the stall next to mine got robbed twice last week.

“There are no businessmen on the council.

“They go in with these fancy ideas about how they think it could look and it does look very pretty, but it’s for Spain.

“It’s just not designed for our climate.”

What the city council had to say

Deputy chief executive and director of customer services at Preston City Council Neil Fairhurst said: “We appreciate Dan’s frustration but do not accept most of the points raised regarding the Market Hall.

“We have worked closely with Dan on the refurbishment plans for Cherry Pie and look forward to the re-opening.

“Preston City Council remains completely committed to the success of Preston Markets.

“Future plans will be announced shortly which will further enhance the Market Hall for current and prospective traders.”

Read more: Preston Market traders demand action and lower rents