Traders worried about their livelihoods after fire

Two traders said they feared for their livelihoods after a market was closed until further notice following a fire.

Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue service said 11 appliances and crews tackled the blaze at Milton Keynes Market, next to Centre:MK, at about 19:27 GMT on Tuesday.

Krishna Siba, who sells groceries and vegetables, said: "This is all my livelihood, my staff, my family... we all depend on this."

The Milton Keynes Development Partnership, which owns the market, and Milton Keynes City Council, have been approached for comment.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said the cause of the fire was due to an electrical fault.

Mr Siba said he closed the shop at about 19:15 on Tuesday and 10 minutes later he received a call to say his shop was on fire.

When he arrived at the scene he said "the fire was already in the sky burning up" and it had taken hold in another outlet behind his under Secklow Gate bridge.

Since the incident, he said he constantly got calls from his customers "who come in day in day out and now they cannot do any shopping".

Raju Khurana, 49, who runs a stall carrying out mobile phone and watch repairs, said his livelihood had gone for the time being.

He told the BBC he could "not sleep" following the fire.

Although his stall was not near the one which burnt down, he said if the market was not open they would all be affected.

According to some traders, part of the market had reopened on Thursday.

In a statement on social media the Milton Keynes Market team said it was "deeply saddened" by the news.

Fundraising campaigns have been set up to help market traders affected by the fire.

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