THE public will have one last opportunity to buy at the famous Wimborne Market as it hosts a clearance sale this weekend.

Wimborne Market ceased trading in Station Terrace after more than 165 years.

Developers McCarthy & Stone acquired the site and have since begun construction on their “flagship” retirement village.

And a last sale will be held at the site on Friday and Saturday to clear items left.

Owner of the market, John George, said: “We closed the market as such, the last proper market was on December 19.

“It was after that in January when the Allendale was able to provide a small number of our stalls.

“But we have got the surplus stuff. We are trying to clear the market out after 150 years, and people have left stuff, a lot of it has gone in the skip.

“A lot of it is too good. We have the antique centre and people have left their stuff.

“So we have got a sale on Friday and Saturday where we have put that into one haul, and we just really want to get it gone.

“People can pick up stuff if they’re interested. We have people down there who’ll say, ‘how much do you want for it’ and whatever but we should get it cleared.

“McCarthy & Stone take over the whole thing on Monday which is why there’s a final sale.”

A smaller market at the Allendale was held through January and Ensors Ltd, John George’s company, has applied for permission to hold a market at the Wimborne Showground and Lake Gates.

Thomas Ensor founded a market in Wimborne 1855, and it has been running ever since.

Bosses blamed “excessively high business rates” and “changing shopping habits” for the closure in February 2020.

The site remained open however, until McCarthy & Stone had planning approved for their retirement development in 2021.

The scheme includes 67 apartments, 26 bungalows, six chalet bungalows, all of which are age restricted for older people, a wellness centre and nine open-market houses.