A FLEDGLING farmers' market could become a permanent event - despite opposition from regular stall-holders who fear it could affect their business.

The Cledale Farmers Group has now held four markets at Sam Turner's on the outskirts of Northallerton, part of an increasing national movement aiming to buck the agricultural crisis.

Now Sam Turner's has applied for planning permission to hold 14 markets a year, on selected Sundays and bank holidays.

But Paul Winn, chairman of the Hambleton branch of the National Market Traders' Federation, said there were concerns it could damage the regular Wednesday and Saturday markets in Northallerton, as well as markets at Thirsk and Bedale.

He said: "We don't want to come down against the farmers because we have a lot of sympathy for their plight.

"We do already have quite a few farmers that trade on the markets and we're not against farmers selling their wares here.

"But if we thought it was a rival market the traders would be against it."

He said shoppers could support local farmers by using the regular markets without having to go to a separate event.

He said: "We will protect our own traders and the local farmers who are already trading on the market.

"A farmers' market takes business out of the town centre, away from the market, and that can't be good for the farmers or the public.

"We will object to anything that we believe will affect the running of the market and we hope our landlords Hambleton District Council will do the same."

But Stephen Knox, chairman of the farmers' group, said he believed the two markets could exist side by side.

He said: "It is not a rival market.We are selling quality produce and I think the two would complement each other. I think the two should be able to work together."

Hambleton District Council is expected to consider the application for the event to become permanent later in the summer.