PLANS to move Northallerton's monthly farmers' market to the High Street finally got the green light this week.

The farmers' stalls will join regular traders for the first time on July 23.

Agreement on the move was reached between Hambleton District Council and North Yorkshire County Council on Wednesday morning.

Members of the district council's licensing committee had already agreed that the taxi rank outside the town hall could be moved to make room for the market stalls.

But that meant moving a mobile unit to land currently allocated as a loading bay at the opposite end of the High Street, outside the Tickle Toby Inn.

County council officials, who had turned down an initial request for a move in May, have now agreed to the change. It will be piloted for 12 months.

The farmers' market, run by the Northern Dales Farmers Market, faced closure without the move to the High Street.

It has been trading for eight months from the Applegarth car park, but farmers complained the site was not high-profile enough.

Farmers agreed to buy smaller stalls and park their vehicles away from the market if they could move to the taxi rank site.

"We are delighted that this move has finally been approved following successful negotiations with the county council," said environmental health spokesman Coun David Blades. "We wish the market traders every success in their new home."