BUSINESS leaders are preparing to step up their campaign against the number of charity shops in a market town.

Members of Thirsk Chamber of Trade are planning to take action after learning that another charity organisation was poised to set up a business on the market place.

The British Heart Foundation is set to take over the former Freeman Hardy Willis shop, which has stood empty for several years.

The move will bring the number of charity shops in the town to eight, but the advantages enjoyed by charities over conventional traders through rate relief has angered some business owners.

Charity shops are granted an 80 per cent rate reduction and 25 per cent of the goods they sell can legally be new.

The chamber of trade says it is now planning to take its case to the Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, amid fears that some traders' livelihoods are being affected.

Chamber of trade chairman Don Moore said: "We have got eight here now, and nobody is being uncharitable, but the problem is that they enjoy this rate relief and can still sell 25 per cent new goods.

"It is getting to the stage where it is out of hand. All the other businesses have to pay full business rates.

"It is a tricky subject because you are hitting out at the people who say charities are good causes, but there has got to be a balance struck."

The latest move by traders in Thirsk follows a high-profile campaign waged last year by their counterparts in North-allerton against the "unfair competition" from charity shops.

Then, business leaders enlisted the help of local MP - the Conservative Party leader, William Hague - to question the Government over privileges afforded to charity shops.

Mr Moore said he expected the issue to be brought into the national spotlight shortly and that he would be writing to the Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce to seek its advice on what action could be taken.