SEAFRONT crab and shellfish stalls in a coastal town are under threat because of planned increases in rents from the borough council, say fishermen.

The stalls have been on the harbourside between the West Pier and the lifeboat house, in Scarborough, for more than a century and have been a popular attraction with generations of tourists.

But fishing families said they faced increases which, in one case, means a rise from £3,500 to £10,000 a year.

Mick Grime, whose family has had a stall for more than two decades, said: "Some people come to Scarborough just to go to the seafood stalls. Without them, the seafront wouldn't be the same."

Another tenant, Curly Fletcher, said: "We fear that unless the council rethinks its decision it could be the death knell for the stalls because we just cannot afford to pay such exorbitant rents."

Graham Price, Scarborough Borough Council's head of property services, said the rents had been frozen for many years.

He said: "We are in negotiations with the tenants over the rents they pay for this prime location."