IT'S early morning and Plymouth's market place is already bustling. Workers are busily setting up their stalls for another day's trading.

Among them is Paul Tapp, who along with his brother Lance owns and runs the L&P Tapp delicatessen.

The siblings have been serving customers for 34 years and are from a line of four generations of Tapp market traders.

"My family have always been in the markets and I always thought I'd get into it too," said Paul, who joined the business in 1978, two years after it was established by his brother.

He said throughout their years at the iconic Plymouth landmark, they had witnessed many changes.

"When we first came here there were about 52 fruit stalls and now there are two; imagine the noise of all those fruit sellers competing for trade.

"It's changed a lot and we've seen a lot of people come and go.

"I think it's harder now for traders than it's ever been, but we're a good, established business and we've built up a good trade over a long period of years."

I saw the loyal hub of customers at first hand when I spent the day with Paul, who chatted away to them like the old friends many of them are.

"My favourite part of the job is meeting the general public," he said.

"We get to know them quite well and a lot of them become friends."

Life as a market trader sees Paul constantly busy and on his feet all day, preparing the locally-sourced ham, sausages, pies and cheese.

A steady flow of customers visit the market stall throughout the day, keeping Paul and Margaret Kennelly, one of six part-time workers, on their toes.

"I really enjoy the atmosphere of working here," said Margaret, who has welcomed customers to the stall for the past 25 years. "We've got some lovely customers and we can have a laugh and a joke with them."

And Paul says a fun and friendly style of work, coupled with fresh ingredients, is what keeps the business a success.

"We try to keep everything local and deal with local producers," says the 49-year-old, adding that he believes Plymouth people will always have a soft spot for the city market.

"That's the great thing about the market – there are so many characters down here. I think there'll always be a market; it's been here for 50 years so hopefully it'll keep going."