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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Liam Thorp

Scouse traders 'overwhelmed' by support after taking up Eurovision Pier Head spot

Scouse street traders who were told to pay £6,000 to keep their Pier Head spot during Eurovision have reluctantly agreed to pay the fee and trade at the waterfront during the contest.

Patsy Murphy and Rebecca Molloy have said they will continue to fight Liverpool Council's decision, but could not risk having no income whatsoever during the festivities.

The business owners said they have refused to put their prices up and will instead try to absorb the extra costs themselves and will make representations to the newly elected council about the decision in due course.

READ MORE: Pregnant daughter held her dying dad after he was gunned down outside house

Patsy is away at the moment but told the ECHO that Rebecca has been 'overwhelmed' by the support she has received from customers at the Pier Head Eurovision Village in recent days.

She said: "The response since we were featured in the ECHO has been amazing. Rebecca said this week she has been overwhelmed. People are coming to find us to support us.

"One woman who is partially blind came to show support. She said she was going to buy a lottery ticket and if she wins will pay our fees for us. People have been so lovely."

At the end of April the ECHO revealed the story of Patsy, Rebecca and their Deli van. Having been invited to trade at the Pier Head since 2010 they were shocked to be told they would be charged £6,000 to remain there for the Eurovision period.

Patsy, 64, who comes from a long line of Scouse street traders, said she felt 'disrespected' by the decision and refused to pass on the costs to her customers through prices rises.

Speaking about the decision to take up the pitch, she said: "This is an ongoing situation. We wanted to fight it with the council but it was difficult timing with the elections, which meant there were no committees for us to raise it at. Unfortunately our only option was to pay up for now and keep fighting this - otherwise we would have no income at all.

"But we decided that we could not put our prices up, so we are trying to absorb the extra costs ourselves."

She added: "We just want to thank everyone for the amazing support we have had. It's quite unbelievable the amount of people who have come over and showed their support. It makes us very proud of our city and its people."

READ MORE: Mum told 'ticking time bomb' could kill baby after Haven holiday

Pregnant daughter held her dying dad after he was gunned down outside house

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