Though non-essential retailers opened their doors for the first time since December yesterday, Barry's market traders have set up on Holton Road throughout.

The Tuesday market is run by operators M and B Markets, who co-ordinate stalls across Wales.

Director Tim Wellings said Covid meant many traders have left the business, opting for more reliable streams of income.

"They couldn't survive, they couldn't get help from the Government," said Tim.

"It's been very hard and I think a few of them have realised that working for somebody can be better off than trying to work for yourself.

"I have a friend in the industry who went and worked as a Tesco delivery driver, and his wife is stacking shelves.

"All of a sudden he's got wages. For the first time in his life, he said he can't see himself coming back.

"He hates the job, but the quality of life for him is so different, and it's better than standing at the market wondering if you're going to be taking £100, £200, or a tenner."

With an uncertain future ahead as Barry emerges from tight Covid restrictions, we spoke to Barry market manager David Reed.

He said that traders have benefitted from shops reopening.

"There's been a lot more footfall today. It is a bit better, but I think a lot of people are cautious still, and rightly so," David told Nub News.

"It is nice to see it all back open. After Christmas we were down here just looking at shutters everywhere."

Along with his wife Lydia, David has over 40 years' experience as a market trader, and has seen Barry town centre change immensely in that time.

"People have gone. The carpet trader has been here since day one, and he's had to close up. It's such a shame," said David.

"I'm glad that Peacocks is staying though, if that had gone it would have been a big loss.

"We just hope that the cafés can open up, so people can come for the day."

Just four stalls had been trading until restrictions eased yesterday, but only two more joined today. David said there was room for a couple more.

One of these newer stalls was that of clothes trader Asif Ali, who admitted he had concerns for the future.

"It's been okay today, considering. We're glad to be back to work after over three months," Asif said.

"The problem is that we're stocked up with Christmas stuff, and they locked us down a week before Christmas.

"Now we've got all the winter clothes to get rid of and it's spring. It's quite hard trying to get some money back in, so we've slashed all the prices to get what we can.

"People are buying, because you never know, we could be in another lockdown in a few months.

"Being a fashion trader, fashion changes so quickly too. So, if there is another lockdown, I don't know if we'd survive it," he said.

Asif said he had seen others close up shop when the financial pressures became too much in recent months.

"They've gone to get other jobs," he said.

"The market is the heart of the town, the hussle and bussle. But unfortunately, off the top of my head I know five traders that have packed it in, they were financially finished.

"A lot of customers don't know we're here, and shops are opening but they haven't announced that the markets are here too.

"Last lockdown, they let market opens first, and announced it so that people knew. This time, there hasn't been anything and we're just pushed to the side again. It's been made normal to do that."

Fruit and vegetable stall owner Gwyn Williams said the high footfall today had made him consider bringing a third worker back on board, after cutting down at the end of last year.

Nub News asked if he had been able to draw in many new customers keen to shop local, but Gwyn said he had seen more loyal, long-standing patrons returning.

"It's mainly old faces, and it's nice to see them after so long. I've worked here for about 15 years, and my father has owned the stall for over 35," said Gwyn.

"It's changed a lot in that time. The problem is that we're keeping traders of old, because they're quite happy doing what they're doing.

"But younger traders, especially with Covid, aren't so keen.

"We've lost a couple of traders because they've gone to do courses or into jobs that wouldn't be affected by the pandemic.

"I've been lucky this time, because we have got markets elsewhere in Blackwood and Merthyr Tydfil as well.

"We have seen a decrease everywhere," he said.

It wasn't all doom and gloom though – Barry locals Michael Evans and Helen Long were new to the town market today, with their flowers and garden ornaments stall.

"It's been good today, but if the weather wasn't with us, it wouldn't have been," said Michael.

"We'll see how it goes."

"Now we know what to do for next week, to bring more signs and decorations," said Helen.