THE subject of street trading was much in the news a century ago, with the shopkeepers of Newtown and Malvern Link raising the topic at the district council meeting.

A report in the Malvern Gazette indicated the local traders were incensed by the conduct of costermongers who were visiting the town from Worcester.

"The costers from the county town carry their competition to the utmost limit," said the Gazette.

"They draw up the barrows in the very front of tradesmen's shops and then announce their arrival in stentorian tones to the surrounding neighbourhood.

"He comes here when it suits his purpose, and has no interest in the place beyond what he gets out of it. He pays no rates, neither does he require a licence when selling goods of a perishable nature.

"Hence the opposition of shopkeepers, whose trade he seriously interferes with, and from their point of view they have a right to insist their interests as businessmen and ratepayers shall be protected against the inroads of costers."

The district started a crackdown on these unlicensed traders.

"In future the by-laws relating to obstruction and shouting in the streets are to be enforced and the volubility of the coster will in consequence be checked."