Markets are one of those deeply ingrained British traditions that we must hope will never die.

But as more of us dash to the supermarket for the groceries after work, their future remains uncertain.

The news today that council officials are looking at a grand scheme to breathe new life into the Covered Market raises new issues about where they go next.

A big expansion, more places to eat and other measures are being proposed to revive the historic market.

Nobody wants to see the market go into decline, but before anything else, the council has to say whether it even backs these plans.

Even if it does, though, the question is whether this vision will actually work.