Market bans festive light seller

A trader has been told Christmas lights are not suitable to be sold at a Dorset town's festive market.

Daryl Self said he could not sell £100,000 of stock after his stall application for Bournemouth Christmas Market was refused.

Mr Self, of Self Trading in Christchurch, said his stock had been branded "not relevant" for the market.

The council said it wanted the market to sell items which "you can't get in local stores".

Mr Self said: "We thought there must be a mistake so we asked them to confirm it in writing and they sent us it in writing - that Christmas lights wouldn't be relevant in a Christmas market.

Our aim is to present a range of goods that are seasonal, hand crafted or are of local origin Roger Parker, town centre manager

"For some reason we have been taken out of the frame and we're not happy at all.

"What is the real reason they are not letting us sell these lights? They are high-end lights and are all approved and certificated."

Town centre manager Roger Parker said the council was working with a new operator for this year's market.

He said the aim was to create "traditional Christmas celebration" market.

"What we're trying to do here is to bring goods in to the town that you can't get in local stores.

"If I walk around Bournemouth now I could buy Christmas lights.

"It's the sort of thing that I might be able to access in a clearance bin in a DIY store for example and that's not what we are trying to create on Bournemouth Square.

"Our aim is to present a range of goods that are seasonal, hand crafted or are of local origin."

The market will be open in Bournemouth Square and the surrounding streets from Thursday 19 November to Sunday 3 January 2010.