OUR readers reacted to the news that a veteran trader approaching 50 years in Carlisle's Market Hall has underscored the key role of community support in safeguarding the market's future and heritage. 

Margaret's Jewellery embodies the significance of such support while traders grapple with recently imposed issues such as a sharp '50 per cent' surge in service charges and maintenance issues.

Margaret's Jewellery first opened in February 1970 under the stewardship of James Hardman. 

The legacy is now carried on Moira Czuczman, who left school a day early to start working alongside her parents, with her husband David. 

Here's what readers thought.

Judith Kirby said: "Always got my going out jewellery from them - the market was brilliant before the rise of supermarkets, you could get everything from fishmongers, butchers, vegetables, cheese, household stuff and the farmers' wives arrived every Saturday with all the goodies - happy memories going in there with my grandma and mum."

Olive Hunter said: "I wish they would bring it back to what it was like years ago you could buy all sorts in there it was great."

Pamela Moore agreed. She said: "Loved the old market."

Joyce Herring said: "Always very helpful and lovely family," and Audrey Barron said Moira's parents were "such a lovely couple always so smart, kind and helpful".

One web user said: "I hope you keep trading, proper working class decent people."