MARKET traders are fearing for their livelihoods and the safety of customers during the icy spell.

Mike Hastings, who has run Mold CB and Guitars at the Daniel Owen precinct for ten years, believes the pavements nearby are the worst he has seen them following snowfall on Friday and he is concerned about what will happen if the temperature stays so low.

According to traders at the indoor market many people slipped and fell at the weekend due to the surface under foot and an ambulance had to be called more than once .

Mike said: “It’s bad enough that people are getting hurt but if this continues it’s going to stop people coming into the town centre at all.”

By yesterday afternoon grit was being applied to paving in the market area and a spokesman for Flintshire County Council claimed the authority does everything in its power to make pavements safe.

Steve Jones, head of the council’s Streetscene team, said: “Following snowfall, all available resources are allocated to carry out manual snow clearing work on footpaths in the county’s various shopping centres .”

- FLINTSHIRE County Council has confirmed it will be maintaining its gritting operation throughout the week.

A spokesman said: “The forecast for the coming week is for continued low temperatures and occasional snow showers.

“Gritting actions will continue to concentrate on priority routes, in order to prevent the formation of ice, however resources will be deployed on secondary routes and footpaths as they become available.

“Up to last Friday, approximately 640 tonnes of rocksalt had been spread on the county’s roads.”