ANGRY traders have threatened to pack up their stalls and move out of town if Bolton Council goes ahead with controversial plans to relocate a popular farmer's market.

Town Hall chiefs want to move the monthly Farmers' Market from its current home in Moss Bank Park to elsewhere in the borough.

Ashburner Street Market in Bolton town centre has been suggested as a possibility.

But traders at yesterday's event, which is expected to be the penultimate to be held in Moss Bank Park, claim a move from the established location on the park's car park for the disabled, would be fatal.

Stallholder, Brian Parkers of Parkers Preserve, has been coming to the market for the last year. He said: "I am totally opposed to the idea of moving this market as are the majority of stallholders. This is a great venue. People come from as far as Bury and Blackburn.

"I am already looking to get stalls on other successful markets like Ramsbottom. What the council don't realise is that they can't force us to move, we can go to other places."

Fellow stallholder and chef Philippa James added: "I can understand traders wanting to leave if the market moves to the town centre. This park venue fits in with the whole healthy living strategy. Children can play in the grounds and it brings people out. The town centre won't have that, and we will again be forced to compete with shops.

"The council should be supporting local producers. This venue is accessible to all, it is perfect for wheelchair users and the disabled."

Lizzy Batchelor of Coco House said: "It won't be a farmers market if they move it into the town centre."

Customers say the Moss Bank Park venue is perfect for a family day out.

Sandra Bunker, from Bolton said: "It's easy to get here and very popular. I bring my grandchildren and they really enjoy it. Youngsters don't like the town centre."

Stephen Appleyard from Bolton said: "The council should support local venues like this. Here you get to enjoy the park. There is no reason to move."

Yesterday's event was due to be the last in Moss Bank Park, but Council bosses scheduled a new date for the park - April 22 - after failing to decide on a new location.

The plan to move the market is because town hall chiefs say the Moss Bank Park site is too small for the growing number of stalls