FURIOUS market traders believe they are being “kicked off” their regular Kidderminster patches on three of their busiest days to make way for an international food event.

Wyre Forest District Council has organised three-day International Food and Gift Markers to be held in the town centre on weekends in March, July and December.

But worried regular Saturday stallholders fear they will lose tens of thousands of pounds as a result of lost trade as they will not be allowed to set up alongside the guest traders.

Nick Savage, aged 64, who has run his hardware and household goods stall in Kidderminster for 12 years claimed traders their calls for a combined regular and international market had been rejected by officers.

Wyre Forest Labour has backed the traders’ plight and will be holding a leafletting campaign at Kidderminster Market between 10am and noon on Saturday (March 17).

The council said it remains committed to providing outdoor markets in Kidderminster but added an agreement with operator Sketts allows them to hold special events separate from the regular traders.

Mr Savage said the council sent Sketts a letter informing them regular stallholders would not be allowed to set up on March 24, July 14 and December 1.

He added the December 1 pre-Christmas date in particular represented their biggest trading day allowing them to take enough to see them through the lean January weeks.

Mr Savage said: “I have spoken to the local traders, who are devastated at being kicked off the market on major sales days.

“They all feel a combined market would make more sense. Many hundreds of shoppers will be denied the goods they need.

“This is yet another mistake made by the council who give the impression they don’t care about local traders, local people, or the local economy.”

Stephen Brown, of Wyre Forest Labour added: “The local market traders are happy to share the market and work together with the international market traders, but their requests to the Council have been rejected.

“They have a right to know why, and what’s in it for the Council?”

“A shared market would mean everyone wins. It will help keep the town centre vibrant, especially in these hard times.

“Our local traders deserve our support, not least because many local people use the market and rely on it.”

A Wyre Forest District Council spokesman said: “The council is committed to provide outdoor markets in Kidderminster town centre and outsourced the operation in February 2016.

“The agreement with the market operator allows the council to hold four special events, separate from the usual market, throughout the year.

“The forthcoming International Market is the first of three such events and follows a similar event which took place in November last year.”