Alan Parsonage, Harpurhey Market

Alan Parsonage, 67, has sold bedding and rugs on Harpurhey Market for 30 years. Here he talks about his love of the market, and his job

“I like the freedom of working here. You only get out of it what you put into it. We are good at our jobs – we like to think we are anyway! It’s hard work, but it’s rewarding. I like the life, the people, and meeting different people.

“We are surrounded by competition – BMI, Wilkinson’s, Asda - but that’s good because it makes you work a little harder and you have to be a little bit craftier. I go round and look at their prices…you've just got to get different stuff than they’ve got – if they’ve got pillow covers in blue, I get them in green.

“The people of Harpurhey are very good people. You can get a false impression because it’s not a very affluent area, but people seem to be able to get money for the things they want. They will miss their rent to get a nice £100 rug. Which suits me! And it’s the people that you least expect to buy the £100 rugs who buy them.

“The biggest asset at this market is the roof. Most open markets have no roof. We've been in this new place for five years, and I haven’t lost a day through the weather. Well, I haven’t lost a day through anything. If it was snowing outside, you wouldn’t know. People are still outside having a cup of tea.

“They meet their friends, their neighbours on here. It's part of the structure of the area. Before all these shops and Asda, the market was here. They’ve built the shops around the market knowing the market had a heart anyway. These are just an addition to the area, the shops.

“Even if they haven’t got a penny in their pocket, people can walk round as if they are millionaires, asking you the prices. People get something out of just walking round the market. I’s good for the area. It brings people together. I’ve served generations on here. The mothers, the fathers, you know…and they keep coming on. I think they are loyal, a lot of them. It’s good; it’s a good life.”