THE GREAT BRITISH TRADITION OF STREET MARKETS IS UPHELD AT STREETTRADERSUNITED.COM

Hammer Force Ltd, a Croydon-based online service provider offers people who enjoy an alternative to impersonal shopping malls a chance to access a site which lists more than 708 UK markets, arranged by region in an easy-to-use format.

StreetTradersUnited provides readily accessible information that caters for UK shoppers, community groups, and tourists who wish to visit historic markets near where they are staying. Unlike many directories and portals, StreetTradersUnited favours text-based links and minimal use of images, ensuring users with lower spec PCs and internet connections are not locked out.

Street traders can list their market or stall on the directory, to gain greater public exposure. They can choose between two options: a Standard Listing (?4.99/year), which includes market name, town, region, whether it is indoors or outdoors, days of operation, market operator, and contact details; and a Gold Listing (?29.99/year), which includes all the standard information, plus a market photograph, full market description, detailed opening times, how to get there, a link to the council or sponsor's website, and a map of the market location.

Anthony Shotton, director of Hammer Force, comments: "My grandfather and father owned and operated a market stall and, having come from this background, I have tremendous admiration for street trading people. Street markets are frequently taken for granted and overlooked in today's culture of 'plastic fantastic' shopping malls. However, markets remain a vital hub for many communities, and I hope StreetTradersUnited.com helps uphold this great British tradition."