THERE'LL be no pier pressure on shoppers when a new market opens -- on North Pier!

Starting on June 4, the market will run every Wednesday, with up to one hundred stalls selling everything from fresh produce to arts and crafts.

Organisers also hope to set up a farmers' market section.

The market is a new venture for the attraction, which is the oldest of Blackpool's three piers, built in 1863.

Owners Leisure Parcs drafted in Matt Hughes, boss of Blackpool's open air market at Bonny Street, to help get the market off to a successful start.

"There may be 30 or 40 stalls to start with. We are trying to get a wide variety and we've had traders from as far away as Lincoln, Plymouth, Carlisle and Stoke on Trent expressing interest," he said.

Leisure Parcs chiefs thought the market would be a good use of 400 yards of decking which is 'basically not used', he added.

"We think it would be a good idea. At the moment it's just a link between the theatre at one end and the amusement arcade at the other."

And the idea is already working successfully in Brighton. "They have a French market once a month, when traders come over from France and set up on the pier," he said.

Peter Walters, North Pier's manager, added: "This is a great start to the main season. The market will have an excellent cross section of stalls appealing to all visitors whether they are taking in the atmosphere, visiting the heritage exhibition or taking in a show at the Pier Theatre."

The market will open every Wednesday, 11am-8pm, from June to October.

Anyone wanting to trade on the market should e-mail northpiermarket@aol.com or telephone Matt Hughes on 627743.