AN HISTORIC market town could soon be left without its market, as traders threaten to pull out over increased rents.

A review by Teesdale District Council in September concluded that some stallholders attending Barnard Castle's Wednesday market were paying too little for their pitch, but their rents were frozen until now as a gesture of goodwill.

However, given notification of the new summer rates, many were up in arms on Wednesday and threatening to leave.

Julie Seal of Julie's Pets said: "We've been talking among ourselves and there is a genuine threat. We just about tick over here, £34.95 a day is a big chunk of our takings. Other markets are cheaper for a bigger pitch with more customers."

Ronald Ward called it one of the most expensive markets.

"The rents should be in proportion to the population," he added. "Mine has gone up from £33 to £42.60. I've been here 13 years, but I'm seriously looking round for somewhere else. Until the market manager left, the council had no idea what the rents were, but nobody complained we weren't paying enough."

His sentiments were echoed by Jon Rider, who has held a confectionery stall for ten years.

"My rent has increased by 200 per cent in one jump," he said. "The pitches have been measured today and I'm reducing the size of mine to keep the rent down until I find somewhere else - £47 is too expensive for a country market. And we still have to pay half if we can't make it because of bad weather."

Other traders agreed, some quoting prices paid at Catterick and Stockton, where they could expect four times the customers. They voiced their concerns to Coun Margaret Hamilton, who has supported them in the past.

"They are opposed to the summer rates and a lot of them are threatening to pull out," said Coun Hamilton. "I'm concerned because we need the market. It's part of the character of this town."

However, the council's principal environmental health officer, Gary Hutchinson, said the authority had been totally transparent.

"We reduced the winter rents by 20 per cent, but they have always known these rises were coming," he added. "We have held meetings with them to discuss this very issue. We gave a clear transition period to allow them time to adjust, we have not just sprung it on them."

Mr Hutchinson said the 2004-05 rates, which some of the traders should have been paying last year had their rents not been frozen, had been pegged for 2005-06.

"We have done everything that we reasonably can," he said.

"We would encourage the traders to stay. We are holding a scheduled meeting with them on May 4. Until then I would ask that they consider the situation carefully and we will gladly listen to them."