FLORISTS in the Covered Market have been invited to set up a pop-up shop at a Westgate Centre fashion boutique.

This week staff from The Garden of Oxford brought delphiniums and other colourful blooms to sell outside women's clothing store & Other Stories.

They say it is good for business - both for the £440m centre and the market, described by Oxford City Council as the 'jewel in the crown' of Oxford's retail offering.

Butchers and shoe shop are the latest to quit Oxford Covered Market - both of them were there for decades

The florists at the market linked up with the boutique when it opened at Westgate in October and provided plants and cacti to brighten it up inside.

Now staff at the florists have been invited back for the pop-up shop, which runs until Sunday.

Customers buying flowers and plants get 10 per cent off their purchases at & Other Stories.

Paul Birtles, owner of The Garden of Oxford, who has worked at the Covered Market for over 30 years, said: "This is a good opportunity for us to show shoppers in the Westgate Centre what we do - we are very pleased to link up with & Other Stories in this way - there's no competition between us.

"We did a mini pop-up for them before and they have invited us back."

Shadee Gerayesh, 24, who works at The Garden Shop, added: "It's a lovely idea to work together in this way - it's good for us, good for & Other Stories and good for Westgate."

Jason Pinnick, manager of & Other Stories at Westgate, said the chain, which has 60 stores around the world, was very environmentally focused.

There are also branches in London, Leeds and Manchester.

Mr Pinnick added: "Since we opened we have worked closely with The Garden of Oxford.

"They did a little pop-up for us around Christmas and ever since our customers have been asking us when they are coming back.

"Flowers and clothes complement each other nicely and it's lovely that we can celebrate summer with this shop from the Covered Market."

Mr Pinnick said he expected the pop-up to run when & Other Stories is open, 10am to 8pm today and tomorrow, and 11am to 5pm on Sunday.

Men's grooming store Burrows & Hare was the first to make a connection between the market and the Westgate Centre.

After first opening at the Covered Market the independent opened a second shop at the shopping centre.

Some market traders have complained that the city council, market landlords, have not invested enough in its refurbishment or promotion.

But the council has argued it is doing everything it can and has invested £1.6m over four years.

Earlier this week artwork, including papier-maché pigs and cows hanging from the roof, was installed at the market in a bid to bring in more shoppers.