I HAD been looking forward for some time to visiting the continental market in Tadcaster, and I arrived in town for the occasion.

I drove through town to park over the river, thinking how strange it was that the place wasn't heaving with shoppers.

I saw an advert for the market in a pub window, bearing a big "cancelled" sign. There were also letters in the window stating the event had been cancelled because of a legal challenge from Samuel Smith's Brewery.

I was furious. Why would the company do such a thing? It could have been such a lovely (and lucrative) three days for the town and Sam Smith's pubs would have been full to overflowing; the brewery could have had its shire horses out on display, held brewery tours and shops and cafs in the town would have welcomed more customers - the list is endless. If the powers that be at Samuel Smith's Brewery want Tadcaster to die, they're certainly going the right way about it.

Mrs A Herbert,

Oakwood Close,

Church Fenton, Tadcaster.

Updated: 09:37 Tuesday, May 31, 2005