AN advertising campaign to get new market traders to come to Darlington has angered existing stallholders.

Advertisements have appeared in the local Market Trader magazine offering new stallholders a variety of incentives if they come to Darlington's Monday and Saturday markets.

Among the incentives are a £10 stall rental fee, discounted parking and the chance to join a loyalty bonus scheme, which offers rewards to anyone who regularly attends the market.

But traders already working in the market say Darlington Borough Council is trying to get casual workers to compete with them.

Margaret Bennington, speaking on behalf of the market traders, said people who often had stalls in Darlington were being asked to pay more for their pitches and other expenses.

She said: "We are all up in arms over this advert. They are offering stalls at £10 each when we all have to pay £18 per stall. The loyalty bonus scheme is being offered to them straight away, when we have to work a full year, including the winter, to earn it.

"We have to pay £60 a year to the National Market Traders' Federation, which includes our insurance for public liability, so how come they can get it cheaper?

"Surely all this is grossly unfair to all the loyal traders? I have been attending both market days for more than 11 years. Does Darlington want to lose the rest of the market because of this very unfair scheme, which doesn't ensure the new traders will stay?"

A council spokeswoman said the advertisement was aimed at getting a better mix of stalls at the market and was targeting those selling different goods to those already on offer.

She said: "We want to increase the number and variety of stalls in the market because we believe a varied market is a successful one.

"This offer is not just open to new traders, but also those already in the market if they want to diversify. We want to encourage new people to trade and hopefully they will stay.

"If an existing trader recommends someone new to join the market and they get a pitch, they will get a cash reward. This is all about improving the market and getting more people to visit the town which will benefit everyone.