Council offers free market pitches to boost trade

Budding market traders are being offered the chance to run a stall for a day in a scheme run by North Yorkshire Council.

Residents are invited to apply for free pitches at Ripon, Thirsk, Helmsley, Pickering, Whitby and Northallerton, with the scheme running until the end of August.

Existing traders will be permitted to set up stalls at an alternative site at no cost.

Huby and Tollerton councillor Malcolm Taylor said markets were a "key part" of North Yorkshire's heritage, adding: "We're trying to give them a boost and get some new traders there for the benefit of these communities."

While the council says the scheme will boost local small businesses by "connecting fellow traders and market enthusiasts", reaction from residents has been mixed.

One took to social media commenting that one free day was "no use" if people were thinking of starting a business, suggesting a month would be a more helpful period to allow them to judge how feasible an idea would be.

Taylor responded: "This is initially to get people to dip their toe in the water, be on the market for a day, speak to fellow market traders and see if it's something they want to continue.

"Hopefully we can build on this, and we'll work with anybody who's interested in developing it to work for them long term."

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.