A BITTER battle over stall holders being "forced" to trade in a town centre market may be over, according to a council boss.

Traders at Clitheroe Market were told by council chiefs to set up shop on Thursdays or quit.

Ribble Valley Council wanted the market to open on Thursdays, as well as Tuesdays and Saturdays, in an attempt to boost flagging attendances.

The controversial scheme split traders and councillors over whether it was fair and workable.

And rebel traders were outraged when council chiefs told them to start pulling their weight or call it a day.

Many claimed they had other markets to attend on Thursdays and that the third day was proving unprofitable.

But Ribble Valley Council community committee chairman Graham Sowter pointed out at a public meeting that millions of pounds had been invested in the market and asked the traders to "pull together" to make it a success. Now he says the rebel traders have climbed down after taking legal advice and a council spokesman said the indications were that the matter had now been resolved.

He said: "There looks to be a substantive move towards all traders attending the market on Thursdays and we are very hopeful that the matter has now been sorted out.

"We made our position very clear that it was vital that, if we were to have a thriving market, everyone traded on Thursdays.

"We are totally committed to the market and believe the third day can be a success. We are keeping our fingers crossed that everything will be all right now."

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