A STALLholder of more than 15 years claims the recent relocation of Darlington's Saturday market is "ruining" his business.

Trader Peter Kellett said takings at his cakes and sweets stall have dropped by 95 per cent since he was moved from the Market Square to West Row.

Darlington Borough Council switched the 1,000-year-old market to the newly-pedestrianised town centre last month - and many traders have hailed the move as a success.

But Mr Kellett warned yesterday that he may have to leave the town unless business improves.

"We didn't want to move from the Market Square," he said. "Since the move our takings have been rubbish.

"The council obviously have other ideas for the Market Square and they took it upon themselves to move us. I know we have had a lot of rain recently, but that can't be the only reason for the poor trade.

"Last time I only took five per cent of my usual turnover - that's a lot of money, and we are being charged more rent.

"Thankfully, I have a unit at the indoor market. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't be in business.

"I'm already thinking about leaving Darlington and going somewhere else because it is ruining my business."

But Allan Draper, who has a stall at the new venue and is chairman of the Darlington branch of the National Market Traders' Federation, said the move had been welcomed by fellow stallholders.

"I would say that 99 per cent of us are happy with it," he said.

"We have only had one week when it hasn't rained - the first time we had a flash flood.

"The council has spent thousands of pounds on the market and shoppers think it is really attractive.

"It just needs to settle down, but since the rain stopped trade has been heaving."

A council spokeswoman said: "It is too early to say how the relocation of the outdoor market has affected trade, as since the stalls were moved two weeks ago we have experienced a lot of rain on market days.

"At a meeting last week of a sub-group of the Town Centre Board, market traders were very positive about the relocation of the market, and thanked the council for its work."