A FARMERS' market is set to return to Evesham as part of the town's late night shopping event next month.

At a town council planning meeting on Monday, members voted to give Wychavon's District Council's town centres officer, Lew Hammond, permission to plan the event in Market Place on Thursday, December 12.

Earlier this year councillors turned down the farmers' request to move their pitches from High Street to Market Square unless they paid the same fees as traders which normally occupied the site on Saturdays.

The market then folded after farmers said they could not afford to pay Market Square prices, nor could they remain in the High Street because the site did not attract enough customers to be viable.

At the meeting on Monday councillors agonised again on whether to let the farmers trade on December 12 free of charge.

Councillor Ron Cartwright said: "I just feel that now they are getting in free in the place where they wanted to go."

Councillor Ron Stowe suggested instead of trading from 4pm to 9pm, the farmers should not be allowed to start until 5pm to lessen competition. Councillor Maggie Stephenson was in the majority however when she said: "I believe that farmers should be given every support to market their food." The recommendation by councillors is set to be ratified at a full town council meeting on November 11.