A MARKET event that attracted thousands of people to Darlington could become a permanent fixture in the town's calendar.

A meeting is being held this week to discuss the possibility of making the Market Spectacular, which was held for the first time last month, an annual event.

Market traders are confident the Town Centre Board, which is meeting tomorrow, will agree to make the Market Spectacular a regular feature.

The four-day event, held between August 17 and 20, is believed to be the biggest market the North-East has ever witnessed.

More than 300 stalls lined the newly-completed £7m Pedestrian Heart.

As well as the regular indoor and outdoor market stalls, they were joined by the National Market Traders' Federation (NMTF) Making Markets Matter roadshow.

The event also included a green eco-market, a craft fair, a farmers' market and stalls selling European produce.

A variety of street theatre and entertainment also performed throughout the four days.

The Market Spectacular was organised to increase interest in the market, and promote it as a good way for people interested in starting their own business to take the first step.

Allan Draper, chairman of the Darlington Branch of the NMTF, said he hoped the Town Centre Board would give the go-ahead for the event.

He said: "I think, more or less, what they will be doing first is examining it to see what the good things were and what were the bad things.

"I do hope they will make it permanent.

"On the Saturday, the town was absolutely heaving, and Darlington has never really been a Sunday shopping place, but the whole town was packed again on the Sunday as well.

"It was an excellent weekend, the weather forecast predicted rain and more rain, but it was absolutely beautiful. What was interesting was, on the Tuesday and Wednesday afterwards, there were much more people in the town.

"They didn't just go once it was all finished. The NMTF will help in any way possible."