TRADERS have called for action to revitalise a town market.

Since Christmas, Malton Market has lost a cheese stall, a snack van and a stationery stall because of a drop in the numbers of shoppers.

Traders say an injection of stalls and a promotional campaign is urgently needed to reverse the trend.

Eventex UK is responsible for the management of the Saturday market.

Malton Market Traders' Association has written to managing director Simon Boak to ask if it can take over the running of the market as a not-for-profit venture.

The association says it would negotiate with councils to get a sign advertising the market on the A64 and replace old stalls with uniform size and colour canopies. It has also suggested introducing incentives for new traders and a loyalty scheme.

They are still awaiting a response, but Mr Boak has said he is in the process of organising a meeting with traders.

"We've tried putting temporary signs on the A64 and the Highways Agency takes them down," he said.

"We organise the market but we can't get people to go to Malton on a Saturday. We have been giving incentives to new traders - they get four weeks for the price of two.

He said it was difficult to make a success of promotional ideas. "Last year, we had a Christmas market which we spent about £500 promoting and made about £300 from it."

"We're not going to give up. If anyone has any ideas, we want to hear them, but putting signs on the A64 is not new."