The Market Square in Northampton may be taking a leaf from the streets of the North Korean capital by gently playing piped music to cheer people up.
In a move bearing eerie similarities to what goes on in Pyongyang, traders in Northampton are now being cheered up by Market Square bosses who have started piping music to their stalls.
Northampton Borough Council is using its licence to hold eve
nts on the Market Square to allow it to play tunes over its tannoy system.
Councillor Trini Crake (Lib Dem, Boughton Green), who is the cabinet member responsible for the Market Square operations, said: "The market traders have a lovely community spirit and when they're feeling a bit cold or tired, listening to music really lifts their spirits.
"Seeing as we have the correct entertainment license for the area I think it's lovely and cheerful that traders have requested this service."
The idea briefly came to life last Christmas, but sprung back into life last week during a particularly cold and gloomy day.
Councillor Crake said: "Usually a few people telephone the market office to ask for a CD to be put on and they then choose something jolly and inoffensive for the traders and the people of the town to enjoy for an hour or two.
"No music had been requested and played since the Christmas carols in December but it was on a particularly grey day this week."
The council playlist so far is limited to pan pipes and a spot of 1970s music, but traders have said they are now in the market for something a bit more up-tempo.
World-weary trader Eamon Fitzpatrick, who runs a fruit and vegetable stall, in the Market Square, said: "It's a bit annoying when I have to raise my voice above the tannoy, but it's not a bad idea to get us all going."
And he added: "Personally, I'd choose something sing-a-long like you hear in the pubs such as The Pogues. Call me cynical but I like Dirty Old Town."
