Wrexham's Monday market has had a few homes over the years, and one trader has been a regular fixture at them all.

Ronnie Duke, 71, from Liverpool, has been selling freshly baked bread and cakes at his stall since 1976, but actually started out at the Beast Market 48 years ago, selling crisps.

He said: "You cannot believe the difference in the market, the way it is now, from what it was.

"When I started on the Beast market, there was a lad who used to sell chips from a unit, and I used to sell crisps off the tow-bar he used to bring it in on."

Mr Duke has been a regular at most of the markets in and around North Wales ever since and he does particularly well at Wrexham due its strong customer base, who return week-in week-out because his products are good and remain cheap.

He said: "I give them a guarantee that if they don't enjoy the last slice, come back and I'll give you your money back."

One of his regulars, who didn't want to be named, said his bread and baps are lovely, as she stocked up on her weekly supply.

She said: "I've got to be perfectly honest, I'm a martyr to bread and I could live on bread alone."

Mr Duke said he wouldn't like to be young coming into the market game at the moment as the rents are generally becoming prohibitive, although he says they remain reasonable here in Wrexham, for now at least.

He said: "A man next to me at Great Homer Street market in Liverpool has just finished after 40 years because the rents became too high.

"When you mention this to the people that are running markets, it's like talking to the wall, because as long there is someone there to fill the spaces, they don't really care, and that's not the essence of a market.

"You're there for the community."

Mr Duke used to work seven days a week until recently and now just works two, and for as long as his Wrexham customers remain, so will he.

He added: "They probably stand there listening to me long enough to think, how the hell is he still in business?!"