FRUSTRATED traders in Accrington have vowed to continue their battle to open on Sundays after they were forced to stay shut at the weekend.

Stallholders in the market hall have branded a decision not to allow them to trade alongside other town centre stores as unfair.

The Arndale Centre in Union Street opened its doors for the first time on a Sunday last weekend, alongside shops and the outdoor market in Broadway.

Several stores in the Arndale traded to take advantage of crowds which had gathered to watch the annual Accrington Cycling Festival.

The centre is now set to open every Sunday, and market hall traders are calling for the chance to do the same.

But council chiefs claim the traders passed up the chance to open during a recent ballot, when the majority decided to stay shut.

Stallholder Neville Singer said: "We will continue to lobby the council through the chamber of trade, the town centre forum and councillors.

"There are at least 30 stalls in the market hall that want to open on a Sunday and it just seems terribly unfair we can't have a choice. "By the time we get a petition together and it goes to council committee we could be talking about a three-month wait.

"Shops in the Arndale are being allowed to open even if others don't and our tenants should have the same privilege."

Arndale Centre manager David Jones said: "I believe the initial Sunday opening was a success.

"About 18 of our shops opened and we would hope to persuade others to do so in time.

"We're due to have a meeting about the weekend trading and we'll certainly be opening from now on."

Michael Whewell, vice-president of Hyndburn Chamber of Trade, added: "We will look at any issues the market hall traders bring to us because we are here for the good of Hyndburn.

"I understand there was a vote on opening, although some of the traders believe the ballot was loaded.

"There was a steady stream of people in the town on Sunday, which was quite encouraging.

"It wasn't packed, but closing the Arndale car park because of the cycle race route may have caused that."

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