Former Apprentice star and trader Thomas Skinner has defended Romford Market after Havering Council revealed plans to shut the town's Sunday market.

Thomas took to X, formerly known as Twitter, after news of the Sunday market’s proposed axe was revealed.

He claimed that Romford Market was once “the best” and it has “a potential to get back to that”.

Thomas wrote: "Hello @LBofHavering I’ve seen on the news your (sic) shutting Romford market!! Please don’t do this! Is there anything I can do to get involved and help save it.

"It once was the best market and has the potential to get back to that. Think of the community & traders that will miss out."

A council spokesperson clarified in response that the council is not planning to close the market entirely, it is just proposing that it no longer opens on Sundays.

The authority published a budget update on November 2 revealing its savings plan from April 2024 in a bid to balance its £31m budget shortfall.

As well as the plan to close the Sunday market, other proposed savings included increasing parking costs and the potential closure of libraries.

The council said it is “very aware” of the impact cuts could have, and pledged to do “everything it can” to maintain its services.

The council has previously warned it may have to file a section 114 notice in the next six to 12 months.

According to the Local Government Information Unit, a section 114 notice is "generally seen as demonstrating that a council faces bankruptcy unless it quickly gets its finances in order".

The savings proposals are to be discussed by the council's cabinet later today (November 8). 

Read More: Havering plans spending controls to avoid 'bankruptcy'

When he was 12, Thomas was a paperboy in Romford and then started selling handbags and purses in Romford Market and Dagenham Sunday Market at 16.

He appeared on BBC show The Apprentice in 2019 and has set up Bosh Market.