A ROW has broken out over Darwen's Christmas market after a business owner said he had been excluded from the event.

Leon Kelly, who owns Level One nightclub in Darwen said he had been planning to sell exclusive gin sets at the market, but was banned from taking part as he had not been part of the food festival.

He said: “Darwen businesses are being excluded from the market.

“They only seem to be interested in promoting a select number of new businesses.

“When the organisers posted the advert for businesses to take part online I got in touch but never heard anything back.

“When I did manage to get in touch with them they said we wouldn’t be able to go in the beer and music tent because that space had been given to the businesses who took part in the food festival.

“I’m asking for a level playing field and they’re saying there’s no room at the inn.

“Local businesses should never be alienated or refused a place at a town event.”

Jake Berry, MP said he had been contacted by Mr Kelly.

He said: “I have been contacted by a Darwen business

“The priority should be to ensure that the town has a successful Christmas market.”

The food festival was the first event to be held on the former three-day-market site. The event was organised by Samantha Taylor, who was also tasked with organising the Christmas market.

She said: "We invited the businesses back who attended the food festival as a thank you for the support and behind the scenes work they did in the run up to the food festival.

“Mr Kelly was invited to be part of the food festival, but dropped out the week of the event.

“We put a post up on Facebook inviting people to take part in the Christmas market but had no response. We are very sorry that Mr Kelly feels like he has not been treated fairly.

“We have made every effort to ensure he can be involved with the market and have offered him a space in one of the three metre gazebos that will house the market where he will be able to sell his gift sets."