A town mayor has said the closure of a historic street market is a prominent sign of the times.

Cllr Vicky Perfect, Flint Town Mayor, said it is "sad and unfortunate" that the town, which first received its charter to host a market over 700 years ago, will now probably be without a market.

The fears come after Flintshire Council’s Community and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee, where Niall Waller, Flintshire Council regeneration manager, recommended a reshuffle on the three most under-performing markets in the county.

After an extensive review with town councils and traders, Mr Waller recommended that Flint street market be closed, that Connah’s Quay market be provisionally transferred to Connah’s Quay town council and that Holywell street market continue on an interim basis.

Cllr Paul Shotton said: “The figures show the only viable market is in Mold. Certainly once we had thriving markets in Flint, Holywell and Connah’s Quay. They are no more.”

While the committee accepted the recommendations, which will be referred to Flintshire Council’s cabinet for finalisation at a later date, Flint Town Council are mourning the loss of their once-thriving market.

Cllr Perfect said: "It's very sad that we will have to withdraw the market, especially because the main reason is lack of attendance. We have had the street closed and most weeks it's only two stalls there. If store holders had more faith in Flint, things might have been different.

"Unfortunately, the way things are, markets are dying out everywhere. Supermarkets offer everything under one roof and cater for everything you would normally buy at market stalls at I daresay a cheaper price."

For Cllr Perfect, the ominous decision to shut Flint street market comes after years of trying to re-boost the bazaar. She explained that the market has "slowly disappeared" and has just "naturally died off."

She said: "It used to be huge, a long time ago back in the 1960's, when it used to be around the town hall. You could get everything - records, clothes, fish, sweets, all sorts."

But Cllr Perfect said she understands the time has come to rid the town of the Friday market, and sadly agrees it is not financially or economically justified to close Church Street all day on a Friday for a market with only two stalls.

Lynda Leigh, manager of the George and Dragon pub on Church Street has a solution to the problem.

She said: "I do get the decision - Church Street is busy, and with traffic being as it is in Flint with all the construction work, and for the amount of stalls it doesn't make sense for the road to be closed.

"I've put the offer out there to traders that they can move their stalls to the back of my pub, where there's car parking space. They're effectively keeping the market, as it's only two stalls, and the road can be re-opened. I just think that's more logical."

Mrs Leigh believes this could mean "happy days for everyone" as the stall's loyal customers could still access their weekly goods, and drivers can also access the busy Church Street every Friday.