It's Thursday morning and husband and wife Mike and Irene Carruthers are sat together on a bench in Ormskirk town centre, their dog Bella waiting calmly at their feet.
Thursday means market day in Ormskirk and the historic town is buzzing with people popping in and out of stalls that snake their way through the pedestrianised centre.
Mike and Irene have made the short journey from their home in nearby Bickerstaffe to do some shopping and enjoy the day, something they often do. "Ormskirk is a very traditional town," says Mike, 72, who used to manage a group of nightclubs. "We really like it here. The market is on twice a week and its a big draw for the town, lots of people come from Southport, Preston, Skelmersdale and elsewhere."
