MARKET traders facing the threat of redundancy say their future remains unclear on the day new bosses take over.

Since Middlesbrough Borough Council began negotiations to sell the lease for the town's Hill Street Centre back to owners Royal Sun Alliance, there has been much speculation over its fate.

In a deal worth £16.7m, the company has bought control of the centre's car park, toilets and market hall.

It is rumoured that the market hall, home to 30 small traders, has been earmarked for a new Gap clothing store.

Throughout the selling process, the traders have voiced concern for their livelihoods. Now, on the day of the market's official handover, they claim no attempt has been made to reassure them.

George Davies, a haberdashery stallholder, said: "When they take over today , they will come and introduce themselves, but we thought there would have been some liaison with them before now. They have said they would look at having a meeting to put us in the picture as to what's happening, at some point in January, but at the moment, we are in exactly the same position of not knowing where we stand.

"We don't even know if our working conditions will change."

While Royal Sun Alliance has yet to make clear its intentions, it would only be required to give a month's notice to move the traders out.

Several stallholders have considered the option of relocating, but many claim they are unable to afford the extra rent.

Mr Davies said: "Anger is more vented at the council than Royal Sun Alliance. It has just washed its hands of us. The money was too good to miss and we are the casualties."

Neither Middlesbrough Borough Council nor Royal Sun Alliance were available for comment last night