Salisbury’s historic charter market is usually bustling on Tuesdays. Asked how trade was this week, Colin Hinton summed it up in one word: “Crap.”

The butcher has braved the weather for half a century to serve customers at the open-air market but, despite the warm March sunshine, Hinton said it was the quietest it had ever been.

“I’ve never seen it like this. I can only conclude that people are staying away because they are scared,” he said.

Salisbury butcher Colin Hinton - market today is the quietest he has known in 50 years. pic.twitter.com/RbwCDSopdZ — steven morris (@stevenmorris20) March 13, 2018

On the hat stall, Dave Alexander had arranged some panama hats in neat rows, believing the warm weather would turn shoppers’ thoughts to long summer days when such headwear is needed.



“It’s been a dreadful day, exceptionally quiet,” said Alexander, who has been working on the market since he was a boy. “I imagine people are scared. I think we need more reassurance. The fact that they told people almost a week later to wash their clothes has made people think that perhaps there is something to worry about.”

Some stores around the Maltings shopping centre remain closed as police investigate the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, and businesses that have remained open say shoppers are staying away.

Danny Styles, who has a fruit and veg stall in the Maltings, was in a grim mood. “The day after it happened all was normal,” he said. “But as soon as they mentioned nerve agent, business has completely dropped off. People don’t think it’s worth the risk to come in. I lost £180 on Thursday and £140 on Friday.”

Salisbury fruit and veg seller Danny Styles #SalisburyisOpen pic.twitter.com/6F4p3BoeQY — steven morris (@stevenmorris20) March 13, 2018

Styles’s stall would normally be within the area the police have cordoned off, so he has moved around the corner into a slightly quieter spot. “First we had the snow here, then the Russian spy. Hopefully the sun will come out soon and the spies will clear off and we can get on with our lives.”

Annette Mansfield, who works at Stonehenge Tailoring in the Maltings, said the message that Salisbury was still operating needed to be communicated more clearly. “It’s been dreadful. People don’t know which bits are open and which are closed,” she said.

Judy Bristowe, who was to be found on the Swan Rescue Sanctuary stall in the Maltings, had brought along a spotted eagle owl called Dill to try to cheer people up and generate interest.

“It’s so bad. There’s no footfall,” she said. “I thought I’d bring Dill down here, which always gets a bit of attention, just to let people know we’re still here. I think it’s going to take us quite a while before people realise it’s safe to come back in.”

Judy Bristowe and spotted eagle owl Dill #SalisburyisOpen pic.twitter.com/QTi4Z7oBVP — steven morris (@stevenmorris20) March 13, 2018

The problem prompted the Salisbury Journal and Salisbury Business Improvement District to launch a “Salisbury is open” campaign.

The Zizzi restaurant, where the Skripals ate before the attack, remains cordoned off. The mother of one Zizzi worker said on Facebook that staff had not suffered any ill effects.

The company issued a statement expressing shock and sadness. “Our thoughts are with the victims, their friends and family, and everyone in the Salisbury community who has been affected by this attack, as well as the police and emergency services who have been working tirelessly across the last seven days,” it said.

“Zizzi Salisbury remains closed as part of the ongoing police investigation. Our priority is to ensure the wellbeing of our team and support our Zizzi Salisbury customers, as well as continuing to do everything we can to help the police.

“We are fully supporting our Zizzi team members, and our team will continue to receive full payment while the Salisbury restaurant is closed.”