A FISHMONGER is celebrating after a wrangle over whether or not he should be allowed to trade at a farmers' market was resolved in his favour.

Mr Jim Hebden, of Whitby, first set up his Fruits of the Sea fish stall at Barnard Castle farmers' market in August last year, but for most of this year the town council has been debating whether he should be allowed to continue to trade there.

The two points of contention were that he was not a farmer and that he was not from the immediate area.

Some councillors believed traders from outside a 30-mile radius of the town should not be allowed to sell at the market.

However, at a meeting on Monday the town council decided he should be allowed to keep his pitch.

Mr Hebden, who also has stalls at markets in Leeds, York, Malton and Pickering, told the D&S Times: "I am very pleased and glad that they have finally sorted it out.

"I promised to put some money into the farmers' market and have always said if anybody else from the area came along we would stop, but they haven't.

"Barnard Castle does not have a wet fish shop and the stall is very popular there. People have signed petitions saying they want us to stay on the market."

Farmers' market co-ordinator Mrs Cathy Tinn welcomed the news. She said: "It's great news for the market and for shoppers.

"I have had lots of people come up to me and say how much they like the fish stall and that they want it to stay."