TRADERS at Morecambe's Festival Market have been asked if they want to set up stall in a large marquee during the punk festival weekend.

The traders have branded the idea "daft" and claim that it should be the punks who use the tent leaving the festival hall open for normal business.

But the council claim the marquee is just one possible way of resolving this continuing dispute.

This week market trader Colin Gibson said: "How are they going to get 97 stalls in there? How much will it cost for flooring and an electricity supply? What about insurance? They'll be more than £1 million worth of stock in that tent. And what about they cafe, how are they going to carry on as normal? It makes much more sense for the punks to be in the tent."

He added: "I want to make it quite clear - we're not against the punks coming to Morecambe. But we need to be trading to take advantage of this busy weekend. We have just 16 weeks in the summer to make a living that will get us through the quiet winter months."

Punk Festival organiser, Darren Russell, said 3,000 punks from all over the world will be arriving in the resort on July 6 for the 25th anniversary celebration.

There will be 120 bands playing at the Festival Market, the Dome, the Platform and the Carlton over three days. Tickets have been selling well in Japan, Germany and America and Mr Russell said: "It's the biggest event of its kind in the world and everything is coming along fine. I'm assured that the Festival Market will be our main venue."

A council spokesman said: "The marquee is just one idea mooted for consultation that's all."