Traders to at market

of local authorities are putting in orders.’

She adds: ‘We are seeing a lot more people buying from us who are trading for the first time. It is not a big outlay, about £250 to start up, but you need to do your homework.

‘Many people contact us not knowing what they are doing. We can give some advice, but on things like insurance we can’t.’

And despite the Portas review urging people to set up market stalls, business in some areas has been slow.

Marie Cole, 41, who sells her children’s clothing, Wee, at Camden Lock market in central London, says: ‘I am selling on average £700 a week at the moment.

‘Last year that was more like £1,000. The Jubilee weekend was my worst.’

Libby McMullin, 28, sells prints and handmade greetings cards at markets in London and agrees that trade has been hit by bad weather, the Olympics, the Royal Wedding and Diamond Jubilee.

‘This year has been particularly hard in London,’ she says. ‘Speaking to other traders, they say their figures have dropped 40 per cent since last year.’

But Libby says people should not be put off selling their crafts at markets as a way into business as she values the customer feedback she receives and start-up costs are low.

Meanwhile, the Trading Standards Institute says that while most people selling at car boot sales do not consider themselves traders, they could be subject to laws which do, such as Acts covering business names, consumer protection, fair trading, food safety and trade descriptions.