FOOD festival organisers have been given a roasting after telling market traders they must make way during the popular two-day event.

Regular stallholders have been allowed to trade as normal in the Market Place during the Bishop Auckland Food Festival since it began more than a decade ago.

But this year they have been told the market will be suspended for the weekend.

While some traders have been offered smaller stalls in an alternative spot, others, providing children’s rides, have been told there is no space for them.

Organisers Visit County Durham has received twice as many requests for spaces than are available but 45 companies from the county will take part.

“We know the food festival has expanded but we have always traded in the same spot,” said Nicola Atkinson, who runs a fruit and vegetable stall. 

“We are also being offered a smaller stall. It is not going to be big enough."

Mandy Owen, who has run a flower stall for more than 20 years, said: “They are messing with people’s livelihoods. It is not as though we make loads of money.

“No-one consulted us we just received a letter.”

Kevin Adams, of Auckland Castles, who operates an inflatable slide, said: “They should be supporting local people. We have always had the same spot every year.”

Another fairground ride trader, who did not wish to be named, added: “We have supported the food festival from the very beginning. This would not happen if we were a shop so why should it be different for us.”

The food festival, which has previously attracted more than 20,000 visitors as a day-long event, will offer a variety of specialist markets and events in and around the Market Place across Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21.

Melanie Sensicle, chief executive of Visit County Durham, which organizes the event, said: "The businesses which trade from Bishop Auckland Market Place every Saturday have been offered stalls at the event free of charge and will also benefit from free exhibitor parking and the significantly increased footfall created by the festival.

"We do appreciate that a small number of traders have been disappointed, but hope that they can understand that the event is evolving and changing so that it benefits all of the businesses in Bishop Auckland and also to safeguard the future of the festival."