LEIGH'S outdoor market traders are to fight on for rent compensation.

Their leader Maureen Maloney is to write to the Ombudsman and Leigh MP Lawrence Cunliffe in a new bid to win restitution of 12 weeks payments.

The move follows a reply to her letter to Cllr Brian Baldwin, Wigan Metro's cultural services portfolio holder.

In it he said he was disappointed that the traders were not happy with the new deal offered, which in effect gives them free usage of the outdoor market until the new market opens in Albion Street.

He said the committee felt that this was a fair response, but also considered that loyalty should be recognised. The deal was the best the council could offer.

But Maureen feels the stallholders have still had a raw deal since they were moved in November to the Gas Street car park.

She said: 'They think the deal is good, we don't. We urge them to look at giving us the 12 weeks back rent when we stood here for nothing - that's £400 in my case.

"If action had been taken sooner we wouldn't have wasted all that rent to get nothing back.

"We are expected to struggle on until the stalls are ready in April. They have forgotten all the years that we were loyal before."