THE long awaited encore of the French Market was greeted by a host of shoppers in Kidderminster.

French market traders returned to town streets for the first time in four years after a ban by Wyre Forest District Council was lifted. Christian Dieu makes crepes.

Shoppers flocked to buy everything from Camembert to crepes and baguettes to bags.

The council had imposed a ban in protest at France's refusal to accept British beef imports due to BSE fears. Raj Dhillon checks out some of the leather goods on sale.

But far from getting in a stew, French traders were happy to return to town last week from Thursday until Saturday.

Organiser, Margaret Moon, Kidderminster Town Centre Partnership vice-chairman said: "The French traders were very pleased with the reaction from townsfolk. It has got our Christmas programme off to a very good start. stallholder Dany Brun with some of her selection of tablecloths.

"It was a bit slow on Thursday but traders expected that. However, many people returned to buy on Friday, and Saturday was a boom day for both the market and town stores."

However, not everyone was impressed by the market. Frenchwoman Cathy Broudy, 21, of Lea Street, Kidderminster, said prices were way too high.

Miss Broudy, a foreign language assistant at King Charles I High School, said: "The market was very nice but too expensive. Denis Avenel shows off his bulbs of garlic on his garlic and onion stall.

"Traders were selling cheap products at high prices - I refused to pay that amount of money. I don't know if English people realised they were paying too much."

However, Miss Broudy, who hails from Rheims, north-east of Paris, added: "My pupils enjoyed the market very much and bought goods so other people must have been satisfied too. And the traders commented how polite townsfolk were."

Ms Moon countered the market was not supposed to be a "bargain hunter's paradise". Guillame Bulard serves Sally Holt with a selection of spices.

She said: "You can't expect it to be cheap. The idea is for townsfolk to buy good quality products in an atmosphere of a French Market, served by French people.

"I think people here enjoyed it and their politeness shows the ambience created brings out the best in people." Henry Bolin tries one of the sweet goodies of Guillame Caron.

l The next Christmas town centre event starts tomorrow. The seasonal craft fair will be held in Vicar Street and High Street until Saturday.