AN award-winning farmers' market will go on being held in a town centre, thanks to a council amending its proposal to increase the site rent.

Twenty traders will be delighted with the news as they put up their stalls today for the monthly selling day in Barnard Castle.

There were fears for the future of the market when Teesdale District Council proposed to charge £7,500 a year for the use of the cobbled area in Market Place.

But councillors agreed on Wednesday to reduce this to £2,190 a year - which will be paid by Teesdale Marketing, a voluntary body which controls the market. Traders will continue paying £32 per stall each month.

Members of Teesdale Marketing were so alarmed by the proposed increase that they started plans to transfer the stalls to the cattle mart on the fringe of the town, though they feared this would put off many customers.

Bill Oldfield, chairman of Teesdale Marketing, said yesterday: "We are absolutely delighted that this agreement has been reached. We are especially pleased that the council has listened to our point of view."

The organisation is amending its budget so that it can pay the council £2,190 without charging the stallholders more.

Neil Stokell, chief executive of the council, said he was pleased an agreement had been reached.