MARKET traders will receive a free month's rent after Darlington Borough Council broke a Pedestrian Heart promise.

This summer, the council agreed not to pedestrianise West Row in the run-up to Christmas to avoid deterring shoppers from the indoor market.

They changed their plans last month - claiming it would reduce the final bill by £100,000 - and offered traders a month's free rent in return.

The traders accepted the agreement, which will save them a combined £40,000. The council's cabinet will rubber-stamp the deal on Tuesday.

Robin Blair, of Darlington Market Traders' Association, said it was good news for traders - especially as the work was completed far quicker than expected.

He said: "Last Monday, John Buxton called me to a meeting and said they wanted to go ahead with the work on West Row before Christmas.

"As a sweetener, he offered us four weeks' free rent. We had a vote, and we agreed to do it.

"In the end, it has worked out well because the work only took one week. It is all done now, but we will still get the free rent.

"It's one of the few times I can praise the council - it's a bit of good news for once. It was done very quickly."

Darlington trader Alan Draper, deputy chairman of the National Market Traders' Federation, said: "We are extremely pleased. It is good the council thought to do this, as it has been difficult here.

"It is a great boost in the run-up to Christmas."

But Mr Blair still criticised the Pedestrian Heart project, which has run over budget and is not scheduled to finish until August.

"It's not often I can praise the council, because the Pedestrian Heart has been a shambles. It has disillusioned the public."

Council leader John Williams said: "Both the indoor and outdoor markets are an extremely important part of the town centre - the Tesco consultation made this very clear.

"Safeguarding their future is a top priority for people in Darlington.

"It is important that we, as landlords, support the markets while the Pedestrian Heart work progresses."