PONTYPOOL'S Indoor Market is full to capacity after Torfaen council was inundated with applications for new stalls.

Independent retailers want stalls to sell carpets, men's clothing, sportswear, candles, fragrances, computers and software, ex-catalogue stock and handmade crafts.

All 35 places in the indoor market have now been snapped up, which follows Torfaen council's regeneration programme for Pontypool and the start of construction of a new Tesco in the town.

The indoor market boom should allay the fears of traders who believed plans to re-establish an outdoor market could affect their business.

In December the Argus reported how opinion was divided over the council allocating £46,500 to re-establish an outdoor market after the previous one stopped trading to make way for the Crane Street Development.

Robert Rowlands, a trader at the indoor market told the Argus in December: "I'm very much against an outdoor market coming to town. It will take business away from us. It's a crazy idea."

But Pontypool councillor Lyn Irwin believes the town can support both markets.

"It's our intention to have an indoor market and to have street markets which is quite an attractive feature in other places," said councillor Irwin.

"I think the indoor and an outdoor market will complement each other. The Crane Street development will, in spite of the interruption caused while it is being worked on, have terrific economic benefits for Pontypool town."

He added: "We can either go forward as we are doing now and take on board the interruptions to improve things or forget it all and let the town centre go down the pan."

Councillor John Marshall, executive member for the environment, said the interest in Pontypool indoor market endorsed their regeneration strategy for the town.

"We feel this confirms local confidence in what we have done to bring new retail development to the town," he said.

"It demonstrates that local business people are keen to be part of the future success of Pontypool.

"We are confident that the Indoor Market will continue to grow in popularity over the coming years."