Stadium market opposed by 20,000

A 20,000 signature petition has been collected opposing a new market at the Walkers Stadium in Leicester.

The city council and Leicester City Football Club had signed a deal with a private firm to hold a Sunday market.

The first event had been due to take place in October but threats of legal action from the 700-year-old city centre market led to it being put off.

Now the city traders, who claim the new market will threaten business, hope the petition will stop the rival for good.

Judicial review

The signatures had been collected in and around the city market - which is not open on Sundays - since the new event was unveiled in the summer.

Traders claimed the city centre should be supported by the authorities, rather than given more competition.

The city council has said it will make a decision about a possible market at the Walkers in January.

But as there was a possibility of the matter going to a judicial review, the council declined to comment further.