A FESTIVAL which brought a flavour of continental Europe to Darlington looks likely to be made an annual event.

The French market held in April brought customers to the town in their thousands to buy delicatessen goods, wickerwork, pancakes, coffee, olives and cheese on sale at a host of stalls.

Town centre officials say they have been investigating the possibility of setting up other specialised markets, such as a German Christmas market, to boost trade and raise the profile of Darlington.

French traders came over to set up their stalls in the Market Square for four days in April, and alongside the regular traders on two of the days.

Children from local schools visited to practise their French with the visitors.

Town Centre Manager Louise Payne told a meeting of the Darlington Town Centre Forum: "The colourful sights and smells from the stalls really added to the ambience of the market and people really enjoyed it.

"We have had several letters saying what a success it was."

Ms Payne said that town centre officials were considering holding the continental market again at the end of September.

She said: "We would like to extend it a bit then. The problem is trying to find places to accommodate it - we may have to move it from the Market Square to Skinnergate, in order to get everyone in."

The proposal to move the market follows complaints from some Darlington traders that the Market Square was too busy on the days that the regular stalls operated alongside the French ones.

Gordon Pybus, of Darlington Association on Disability, said he would like to see wheelchair access improved for the next market.

He said: "It was a fantastic set-out, but access for wheelchair-users was hardly existent at all."

Councillor Isobel Hartley, former mayor, said: "I did invite a party of 25 people to Darlington on one day and they all thought it was marvellous. But we did think it was a bit squashed when it was put in with the regular market traders."

Ms Payne said traders in the town centre noticed more people coming into the town and spending more money during the continental market days.