A pair of Kingston market stall traders are refusing to leave Market Place - despite being told to clear out by today.

David Wilson and Angela Lassiter were both told on Saturday afternoon they had until 6pm today to pack up their stalls and hand the keys back.

They were among three traders given a month's notice by town centre management firm Kingstonfirst ahead of the historic 12th century site being converted into a hot and cold food market.

Mr Wilson, 73, and Mrs Lassiter, 51, had applied for extensions beyond the original eviction date - but were told at 3.30pm on Saturday that the application was unsuccessful. The third market trader, Lorna Herne, is understood to have already left.

But Mr Wilson and Mrs Lassiter are refusing to budge - and are seeking legal advice against the eviction.

Mr Wilson, who has been selling an assortment of vinyl records, CDs, tapes and DVDs in Kingston for 35 years, said: "They [Kingstonfirst] came around late on Saturday afternoon, after all these promises of negotiation, and it's just been brutal and underhanded.

"I'm seeing my life being taken away, through no fault of my own.

"They want me to clear the stall, hand in the keys and pay any money I owe them by 6pm today.

"I'm in no position to do that. I've got nowhere to put all this stuff.

He added: "I've spoken to my solicitor, who's told me not to go.”

Greetings card seller Mrs Lassiter said: "We can't move anyway.

"We've got too much stuff it would take a week at least to clear out all our stock.

"Anytime anybody mentions it I just burst into tears.

"We're getting a lot of support from the market and the public, but it seems it might be too much, too late."

A Kingstonfirst spokeswoman said: "The traders in question were each issued with one month's notice. The last day of notice is today.

"The traders have been offered the opportunity of free business support to develop a new product offer for the ancient market.

"They have also been offered the opportunity to trade on the Monday market with their current product offer."

Mr Wilson and Mrs Lassiter have launched a petition against their removal which has so far collected more than 600 signatures.