MARKET traders have accused Darlington Borough Council of failing to consult them over the introduction of a farmers' market.

The Darlington Retail Market Stallholders' Association is concerned about the effect the market will have on its members' businesses.

In a letter to the council, association chairman Charles Smith said he was only informed about the market during a meeting to discuss a traffic order being introduced around the Covered Market.

He says the market was due to be held on the third Thursday of the month, but was changed at short notice to Fridays - one of the busiest days for market traders in Darlington.

"We had been led to believe that the market would be held on a day when there was a quiet feel to the town and by the presence of a farmers market, a general upsurge of customers would be achieved," he said.

The traders are also unhappy about the list of goods which will be sold at the market, including fruit and vegetables, free-range eggs and meat.

Mr Smith said the majority of those goods were already on sale in the Covered Market.

Darlington Borough Council is to hold further markets in the next two months, and if they successful, they could become a regular event.

The authority says studies show that where local authorities operate markets, 70 per cent show an increase in trade.

Markets manager Peter Wilson said: "Some traders have raised concerns, but we want the farmers' market to operate in tandem with the other markets, and believe it will bring income into the town."