TAXI drivers have said that the location of a farmers' market is dangerous and is an accident waiting to happen.

Northallerton farmers' market takes place every fourth Wednesday of the month on an area usually taken up by a taxi rank, north of the town hall.

When the market is on, the taxi rank is forced to relocate to the other side of the road outside the Roy Castle charity shop.

According to the Hambleton Association of Taxi Services, this means that elderly and infirm people have to cross the busy High Street to get to the rank.

In a letter to Hambleton District Council, group secretary Lynton Astbury said: "The site currently being used on farmers' market days is inadequate and dangerous.

"It is a widely-held belief that a serious accident is inevitable given the need to cross two lanes of traffic.

"Many elderly and/or infirm people use the taxi services provided and, in many cases, they are confused by the absence of taxis on the normal rank."

Mr Astbury said that not enough space was allocated, and other vehicles frequently park in the area that has been set aside.

He said: "Complaints have been made by drivers, operators, pedestrians and other drivers about taxis having to make U-turns to get on the rank when approaching from the north.

"Given the volumes of traffic and parking hold-ups, it is not practicable to drive the length of the High Street both ways to get on the rank."

But the council says it has consulted with several groups and the taxi drivers' association is the only group which is unhappy with the site.

Mike Kneebone, operational services manager, said: "The organisers of the markets, the Northern Dales Farmers' Markets, are extremely pleased with the location and have described the market as thriving."

A progress report on all the farmers' markets in Hambleton, including Thirsk and Northallerton, is expected to be discussed by the council's cabinet today.