THE owner of a Worcester bridalwear shop has hit out at the city council after claiming the smell of fried onions during the annual Victorian Christmas Fayre is making her customers feel ill.

Anne Wild, who owns Perfections, in Friar Street, said the smells from fast-food vans had led to a steep decline in business for the street's boutiques, and shopkeepers had asked for the fair to be moved two months ago.

But the council has told her it will take 22 months to make a switch - a wait described by a local MP as "staggering".

"These are the best shops in the town, the most expensive ladies' shops, and this is where these huge fast food wagons with chips and greasy onions are put," said Ms Wild.

"One lady had to sit down, then had to leave the shop because she felt ill at the smell.

"Wedding dresses are a one-off purchase, and this drives customers to go to another shop or another town to spend their money."

Fellow shopkeeper Lynne Craig, owner of designer clothes shop Lynne Craig, said despite the number of visitors who come to Worcester for the fair, on average businesses in Friar Street made a loss of 63 per cent during the event.

"We are finding it extremely frustrating that the council seem to be taking such a long time to help us," she said.

Council chief executive David Wareing has written to local businesses stating there is not enough time to make a switch this year.

"I am extremely doubtful if any major changes - assuming these are agreed -- can be made until 2005 given the long planning lead-in time needed for the event," he said.

But city MP Mike Foster, who has taken up the traders' complaints, described the wait as "staggering".

"The city council is quick enough off the mark when their money is concerned, but apparently everyone else can wait," he said.

"All the local businesses want in the short term is an assurance that no food vendor will be stuck outside their shop, putting off customers.

"They face losses each year, while the city council does very well out of the Fayre."

Claire Collier, assistant tourism and marketing manager for the council, said to alter the Fayre this year would have meant planning since last summer.

"The Fayre has a huge impact on the city," she said. "There's the road closures, then the consultation with business.

"If we are looking at moving stalls to other locations we have got to look at electricity points - that's just one small aspect of it."