HAMBLETON councillors face a double challenge when they meet in Bedale next week against the backdrop of the traditional market.

They are being asked to consider ways, not only of revitalising the weekly market, the charter for which dates back to 1251, but of persuading farmers to sell their produce in the town once more.

There has been concern for many years about the viability of the Tuesday market, which this week had only a handful of stalls, and there has not been a monthly farmers' market in Bedale since December, when the organisers pulled out because they were down to an average of four loss-making stalls.

Hambleton environment and economy overview and scrutiny committee, which has been investigating Bedale markets since 2001, meets at Bedale Hall on Tuesday (10am) to undertake a policy review. It will report back to council cabinet if necessary.

The meeting will be addressed by council officers, market traders and representatives of Northern Dales Farmers' Markets, the chamber of trade and the town council.

But the chances of a farmers' market returning to Bedale are not looking good, unless the committee comes up with a viable proposition, according to director and chief executive Alastair Davy.

"We have made it very clear what went wrong there. We are open to any ideas the committee may have but we have no intention of going back unless something is put to us that is definitely going to succeed.

"Bedale has been identified as a dormitory town, and a farmers' market doesn't work there through the week. We held the stall holders there as long as we could but they were running at a loss and that was that.

"There was quite a lot of friction, farmers weren't attending and we couldn't access the area we needed because cars were parked on it.

"We are obviously interested in any viable proposition that may be put to us. We have got to make a profit or stop. It's just a hard business decision at the end of the day."

Chamber of trade chairman John Laity, who is concerned about the performance of the traditional Tuesday market, said: "It's a downward spiral which will take some reversing.

"At least they are trying to address the problem instead of everyone trying to blame everyone else. We have to try to look at the problem collectively."

Mr Laity said out-of-town centres and internet shopping had made an impact, and erosion of Hambleton's advertising budget had not helped, but he thought more could be done to promote Bedale and to have dedicated stalls for more casual traders to rent, as in Northallerton and Thirsk.

Bob Pocklington, who will represent the town council at the special meeting, thought there could be more promotion of the market and incentives for first-time sellers and people willing to book ahead.

He added: "What we need is a meeting with some of the stall holders, because they have got to tell us what they need."