Tadcaster traders have reacted with anger to the news that French market traders have pulled out of three dates in the Selby area.

Shopkeepers say the decision by the Normandy traders to give the thumbs-down to Tadcaster's Britannia car park as one of the venues for the market will badly damage the town's economy.

Angela Usher, chairman of Tadcaster Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said she was bitterly disappointed the event had been cancelled.

"I positively agree that the market was going to be held in the wrong place," she said.

"Kirkgate would have been the ideal site.

"We hold a Victorian market there at Christmas time, and it is always wonderful.

"The French market would have brought more atmosphere to Tadcaster. Kirkgate would have made it a great success. All the traders are terribly disappointed."

Tadcaster Market was itself moved to the Britannia Car Park five months ago, after a spell in Falcon Car Park, which is behind Kirkgate.

Carol Simpson, manager of designer clothing company Room 3, said: "Our taking have dropped significantly since the market was moved.

"It has taken shopping activity away from the main street.

"It used to be really buzzing on a Thursday, but there doesn't seem to be nearly as many people as there used to be. It's a real shame the French traders have pulled out, the market would have been fantastic for Tadcaster."

Pharmacist David Gill said his Thursday takings have almost halved since the market moved to Britannia car park.

"Thursday used to be the busiest shopping day of the week, but now it's probably the quietest," he said.

"Tadcaster has always welcomed any themed market, the French market would have brought crowds flocking to the streets.

"But it should have been placed in Kirkgate from the start, and traders always though that."

The French traders also declined to trade in the Elmete Social Club car park, in Sherburn-in-Elmet.

The whole venture has now been called off.

Updated: 10:40 Friday, November 07, 2003