A ROW has broken out between traders and a council after a town's annual Christmas market was axed.

Bury Council has said Ramsbottom's market on the first three Sundays in December was "time consuming, cost prohibitive and not popular with all shopkeepers and residents."

But some traders have criticised these claims and said the real reason for the market's collapse was because the council stopped providing the stalls for them to use.

Bill Allpress, who owns Allpress Bags and Accessories in Bridge Street, said: "The truth is the council has withdrawn the stall facility for the Sunday markets this year, so traders have to provide their own, so of course there's going to be very little interest. It's ridiculous."

"The Christmas markets are among Ramsbottom's most popular features, and bring in large numbers of visitors to the town, and shopkeepers can only benefit from that.

"The council has come in a just kicked three of the busiest days on the year from under our feet. I'm very upset. This news is a huge blow, and it's wrong."

Fellow retailer Mary-Ann Hodgkinson said: "I've been on the regular Ramsbottom Markets for 15 years, and recently I've seen how the council are giving absolutely no support to the town, preferring to concentrate on the already successful Bury Markets."

Ramsbottom councillor Barry Theckston added: "A lot of people will be a disappointed that the markets will not be on. They're part of the town's tradition."

But as well as deeming the markets "time consuming and cost prohibitive", the council's markets department also said that "they are not universally popular with shopkeepers, some of whom claim they take away their trade, makes it difficult for their customers to park and feel that it brings down the image of the town."

A council spokesperson added: "Last year the price for stalls erected by us was £35, and £25 for people with their own stalls. This year there is no facility for council-erected stalls, but the price for people erecting their own stall is still £25.

"Markets management had every intention of running the event, unfortunately demand was low and more particularly the variety of goods sold by confirmed traders was limited."