An indoor market which failed to launch in April is being given a fresh start, much to the relief of traders.

The Colwell Centre in School Street, Weymouth, has been taken over by Mike Ellery, manager of Brewers Quay Emporium, and is due to open at 10am on Thursday.

The former indoor shopping centre has been renamed the School Street Plaza.

Mr Ellery said: “I am officially working with the building owner and they are happy with what I am doing.”

An indoor market had been due to open on April 1 but, the day before opening, traders arrived to find that the locks had been changed.

They were then unable to contact businessman Tony Peers, who was behind the venture.

Many traders had moved stock into the building and said they had paid Mr Peers money in advance, in some cases thousands of pounds.

Since then there have been efforts to relaunch the market, with Mr Ellery stepping forward and working with the building’s owner.

“We have taken on most of the traders who were let down,” said Mr Ellery.

The building’s owner, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed they were working with Mr Ellery. He said: “A management agreement is in place with Mike and we are working together to help the people let down previously. We feel a moral obligation as some people were let down very badly and we wanted to do something to salvage the situation.

“Everyone has been working very hard behind the scenes and Mike has been fantastic. Everyone is working hard to solve the issues and working together to create a vibrant, thriving centre for Weymouth.”

The market will house more than 20 stalls including arts and crafts, furniture, antiques, beautician and a café.

“We all just want the place open,” said Mr Ellery. “It will only ever succeed if the people of Weymouth support it.

“It’s a good thing for the town. There are so many closed shops because rents are too high for most places. Independents struggle and this gives them an opportunity.”

Stallholder Mavis Newton says she is relieved the market opening is back on track.

“It’s been a stressful time,” she said. “I’ve been in business for four years and it has got better every year. It was working in the right way before all of this happened. I’ve lost two months of sales. I’ve been trying to be strong and work through it.

“The new market has got everything; it’s nothing like it was before so everyone should come and have a look. I think everybody will love it.”