A YORK Newgate Market trader today warned of "deep resentment" between stallholders and managers after claims that part of the city's latest specialist market is competing directly with locals.

The complaints centre on a large Spanish fruit and vegetable stall, trading in Parliament Street with a Continental Market this weekend.

Newgate fruit and vegetable trader Simon Baynes said he was not concerned about its nationality, but claimed it was selling the same goods as him at his busiest time of the year.

"The issue is they have stuck a market out there in the middle of the summer," he said. "The locals will still come and see us, but the visitors will go down the main street and we don't get a chance."

He added previous specialist markets had sold other types of goods, as had a farmers' market this week. "It complements this market when there's something different out there," he said.

Fellow fruit and vegetable trader John Mannion said it was "unfair direct competition" and the Newgate traders were at a very big disadvantage.

"If it goes on like this it's going to cause deep resentment between the traders and the market management, and they had better be aware of it," he added.

City of York Council markets manager Paul Barrett said they would take the complaints on board, adding the Spanish stall was not intended to compete with the Newgate traders.

But he was confident the specialist markets benefited the city as a whole. "It's put there as part of a bigger subject, to try and draw people into the city." He said many city retailers got in extra stock and staff when markets were on.

They could not pick and choose the goods that went into a market in case they might pose competition - for example, local butchers could have objected to the farmers' market because meat was on sale.

Shar Williams, operations manager for the Continental Market, said the same stall came to their last market in York in February, but did not draw this reaction. She said it was part of the "Mediterranean feel" of the event, adding: "We are thrilled to be back, it's a lovely city. No doubt we will spend a fortune while we are here."